Algorithms for Locating Constrained Optimal Intervals

TL;DR

This paper introduces new efficient algorithms for locating optimal index intervals in sequences under specific constraints, improving computational speed for ratio maximization problems.

Contribution

The work presents two novel algorithms: one for maximizing a ratio with a sum constraint in linear time, and another for a more complex ratio with a sum constraint in subquadratic time.

Findings

First algorithm runs in O(n) time for ratio maximization with sum constraint.

Second algorithm achieves subquadratic time complexity leveraging shortest path problem solutions.

Provides practical methods for constrained optimal interval detection in sequences.

Abstract

In this work, we obtain the following new results. 1. Given a sequence $D=((h_1,s_1), (h_2,s_2) ..., (h_n,s_n))$ of number pairs, where $s_i>0$ for all $i$, and a number $L_h$, we propose an O(n)-time algorithm for finding an index interval $[i,j]$ that maximizes $\frac{\sum_{k=i}^{j} h_k}{\sum_{k=i}^{j} s_k}$ subject to $\sum_{k=i}^{j} h_k \geq L_h$. 2. Given a sequence $D=((h_1,s_1), (h_2,s_2) ..., (h_n,s_n))$ of number pairs, where $s_i=1$ for all $i$, and an integer $L_s$ with $1\leq L_s\leq n$, we propose an $O(n\frac{T(L_s^{1/2})}{L_s^{1/2}})$-time algorithm for finding an index interval $[i,j]$ that maximizes $\frac{\sum_{k=i}^{j} h_k}{\sqrt{\sum_{k=i}^{j} s_k}}$ subject to $\sum_{k=i}^{j} s_k \geq L_s$, where $T(n')$ is the time required to solve the all-pairs shortest paths problem on a graph of $n'$ nodes. By the latest result of Chan \cite{Chan}, $T(n')=O(n'^3 \frac{(\log\log n')^3}{(\log n')^2})$, so our algorithm runs in subquadratic time $O(nL_s\frac{(\log\log L_s)^3}{(\log L_s)^2})$.