Numerical 3-dimensional Matching
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Numerical 3-dimensional matching is an
NP-complete In computational complexity theory, a problem is NP-complete when: # it is a problem for which the correctness of each solution can be verified quickly (namely, in polynomial time) and a brute-force search algorithm can find a solution by tryi ...
decision problem. It is given by three
multisets In mathematics, a multiset (or bag, or mset) is a modification of the concept of a set that, unlike a set, allows for multiple instances for each of its elements. The number of instances given for each element is called the multiplicity of that ...
of
integer An integer is the number zero (), a positive natural number (, , , etc.) or a negative integer with a minus sign (−1, −2, −3, etc.). The negative numbers are the additive inverses of the corresponding positive numbers. In the language ...
s X, Y and Z, each containing k elements, and a bound b. The goal is to select a subset M of X\times Y\times Z such that every integer in X, Y and Z occurs exactly once and that for every triple (x,y,z) in the subset x+y+z=b holds. This problem is labeled as
P16 p16 (also known as p16INK4a, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, CDKN2A, multiple tumor suppressor 1 and numerous other synonyms), is a protein that slows cell division by slowing the progression of the cell cycle from the G1 phase to the S p ...
in.Garey, Michael R. and David S. Johnson (1979), Computers and Intractability; A Guide to the Theory of NP-Completeness.


Example

Take X=\, Y=\ and Z=\, and b=10. This instance has a solution, namely \. Note that each triple sums to b=10. The set \ is not a solution for several reasons: not every number is used (a 4\in X is missing), a number is used too often (the 3\in X) and not every triple sums to b (since 3+4+2=9\neq b=10). However, there is at least one solution to this problem, which is the property we are interested in with decision problems. If we would take b=11 for the same X, Y and Z, this problem would have no solution (all numbers sum to 30, which is not equal to k\cdot b=33 in this case).


Related problems

Every instance of the Numerical 3-dimensional matching problem is an instance of both the
3-partition problem The 3-partition problem is a strongly NP-complete problem in computer science. The problem is to decide whether a given multiset of integers can be partitioned into triplets that all have the same sum. More precisely: * The input to the problem ...
, and the
3-dimensional matching In the mathematical discipline of graph theory, a 3-dimensional matching is a generalization of bipartite matching (also known as 2-dimensional matching) to 3-partite hypergraphs, which consist of hyperedges each of which contains 3 vertices (inste ...
problem.


Proof of NP-completeness

NP-completeness of the 3-partition problem is stated by Garey and Johnson in "Computers and Intractability; A Guide to the Theory of NP-Completeness", which references to this problem with the code
P16 p16 (also known as p16INK4a, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, CDKN2A, multiple tumor suppressor 1 and numerous other synonyms), is a protein that slows cell division by slowing the progression of the cell cycle from the G1 phase to the S p ...
It is done by a reduction from 3-dimensional matching via 4-partition. To prove NP-completeness of the numerical 3-dimensional matching, the proof is similar, but a reduction from 3-dimensional matching via the numerical 4-dimensional matching problem should be used.


References

{{reflist Strongly NP-complete problems