
arXiv: 2407.09097
We show that various recent algorithms for finite-domain constraint satisfaction problems (CSP), which are based on solving their affine integer relaxations, do not solve all tractable and not even all Maltsev CSPs. This rules them out as candidates for a universal polynomial-time CSP algorithm. The algorithms are $\mathbb{Z}$-affine $k$-consistency, BLP+AIP, BA$^{k}$, and CLAP. We thereby answer a question by Brakensiek, Guruswami, Wrochna, and Živný whether BLP+AIP solves all tractable CSPs in the negative. We also refute a conjecture by Dalmau and Opršal (LICS 2024) that every CSP is either solved by $\mathbb{Z}$-affine $k$-consistency or admits a Datalog reduction from 3-colorability. For the cohomological $k$-consistency algorithm, that is also based on affine relaxations, we show that it correctly solves our counterexample but fails on an NP-complete template.
New version with Theorem 1.3 significantly strengthened (linear lower bound for cohomological k-consistency algorithm)
promise CSPs, graph isomorphism, FOS: Computer and information sciences, cohomological k-consistency algorithm, Computational Complexity, ℤ-affine k-consistency, constraint satisfaction, Tseitin, affine relaxation, Computational Complexity (cs.CC), ddc: ddc:004
promise CSPs, graph isomorphism, FOS: Computer and information sciences, cohomological k-consistency algorithm, Computational Complexity, ℤ-affine k-consistency, constraint satisfaction, Tseitin, affine relaxation, Computational Complexity (cs.CC), ddc: ddc:004
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 1 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
