Better approximation algorithms for maximum weight internal spanning trees in cubic graphs and claw-free graphs

TL;DR

This paper presents improved, simple, and linear-time approximation algorithms for the maximum weight internal spanning tree problem in cubic and claw-free graphs, achieving ratios close to 3/4 and 3/5 respectively.

Contribution

It introduces new approximation algorithms with better ratios, simplicity, and efficiency for MaxwIST in cubic and claw-free graphs, addressing open questions.

Findings

Achieves a 3/4 - 3/n approximation ratio for cubic graphs.

Achieves a 3/5 - 1/n approximation ratio for claw-free graphs.

Algorithms run in linear time and are simpler than previous methods.

Abstract

Given a connected vertex-weighted graph $G$, the maximum weight internal spanning tree (MaxwIST) problem asks for a spanning tree of $G$ that maximizes the total weight of internal nodes. This problem is NP-hard and APX-hard, with the currently best known approximation factor $1/2$ (Chen et al., Algorithmica 2019). For the case of claw-free graphs, Chen et al. present an involved approximation algorithm with approximation factor $7/12$. They asked whether it is possible to improve these ratios, in particular for claw-free graphs and cubic graphs. We improve the approximation factors for the MaxwIST problem in cubic graphs and claw-free graphs. For cubic graphs we present an algorithm that computes a spanning tree whose total weight of internal vertices is at least $\frac{3}{4}-\frac{3}{n}$ times the total weight of all vertices, where $n$ is the number of vertices of $G$. This ratio is almost tight for large values of $n$. For claw-free graphs of degree at least three, we present an algorithm that computes a spanning tree whose total internal weight is at least $\frac{3}{5}-\frac{1}{n}$ times the total vertex weight. The degree constraint is necessary as this ratio may not be achievable if we allow vertices of degree less than three. With the above ratios, we immediately obtain better approximation algorithms with factors $\frac{3}{4}-\epsilon$ and $\frac{3}{5}-\epsilon$ for the MaxwIST problem in cubic graphs and claw-free graphs of degree at least three, for any $\epsilon>0$. In addition to improving the approximation factors, the new algorithms are relatively short compared to that of Chen et al.. The new algorithms are fairly simple, and employ a variant of the depth-first search algorithm that selects a relatively-large-weight vertex in every branching step. Moreover, the new algorithms take linear time while previous algorithms for similar problem instances are super-linear.