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Random walks and an O*(n5) volume algorithm for convex bodies

✍ Scribed by Ravi Kannan; László Lovász; Miklós Simonovits


Publisher
John Wiley and Sons
Year
1997
Tongue
English
Weight
423 KB
Volume
11
Category
Article
ISSN
1042-9832

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✦ Synopsis


Given a high dimensional convex body K: ‫ޒ‬ n by a separation oracle, we can U Ž 5 . approximate its volume with relative error , using O n oracle calls. Our algorithm also brings the body into isotropic position. As all previous randomized volume algorithms, we Ž . use ''rounding'' followed by a multiphase Monte-Carlo product estimator technique. Both Ž . parts rely on sampling generating random points in K , which is done by random walk. Our Ž algorithm introduces three new ideas: the use of the isotropic position or at least an . Ž . approximation of it for rounding; the separation of global obstructions diameter and local Ž . obstructions boundary problems for fast mixing; and a stepwise interlacing of rounding and Ž .