Abstract
The Min Cut Linear Arrangement problem asks, for a given graphG and a positive integerk, if there exists a linear arrangement ofG's vertices so that any line separating consecutive vertices in the layout cuts at mostk of the edges. A variation of this problem insists that the arrangement be made on a (fixed-degree) tree instead of a line. We show that (1) this problem isNP-complete even whenG is planar; (2) it is easily solved whenG is a tree; and (3) there is a simple characterization for all graphs with cost 2 or less. Our main result is a linear-time algorithm to embed an outerplanar graphG into a spanning tree with cost at most maxdegree(G) + 1. This result is important because it extends to an approximation algorithm for the standard Min Cut Linear Arrangement Problem on outerplanar graphs.
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Supported in part by NSF Grant CCR-8710730.
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Simonson, S. A variation on the min cut linear arrangement problem. Math. Systems Theory 20, 235–252 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01692067
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01692067