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Hauptverfasser: Konrad, Christian, Trehan, Chhaya
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16022
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author Konrad, Christian
Trehan, Chhaya
author_facet Konrad, Christian
Trehan, Chhaya
contents In the graph stream model of computation, an algorithm processes the edges of an input graph in one or more sequential passes while using a memory sublinear in the input size. This model poses significant challenges for constructing long paths. Many known algorithms tasked with extending an existing path as a subroutine require an entire pass to add a single additional edge. This raises a fundamental question: Are multiple passes inherently necessary to construct paths of non-trivial lengths, or can a single pass suffice? To address this question, we study the Longest Path problem in the one-pass streaming model. In this problem, given a desired approximation factor $α$, the objective is to compute a path of length at least $\lp(G) / α$, where $\lp(G)$ is the length of a longest path in the input graph. We give algorithms as well as space lower bounds for both undirected and directed graphs. Our results include: We show that for undirected graphs, in both the insertion-only and the insertion-deletion models, there are semi-streaming algorithms, that compute a path of length at least $d /3$ with high probability, where $d$ is the average degree of the graph. These algorithms can also yield an $α$-approximation to Longest Path using space $\tilde{O}(n^2 / α)$. Next, we show that such a result cannot be achieved for directed graphs, even in the insertion-only model. We show that computing a $(n^{1 - o(1)})$-approximation to Longest Path in directed graphs in the insertion-only model requires space $Ω(n^2)$. We further show two additional lower bounds. First, we show that semi-streaming space is insufficient for small constant factor approximations to Longest Path for undirected graphs in the insertion-only model. Last, in undirected graphs in the insertion-deletion model, we show that computing an $α$-approximation requires space $Ω(n^2 / α^3)$.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_16022
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Constructing Long Paths in Graph Streams
Konrad, Christian
Trehan, Chhaya
Data Structures and Algorithms
In the graph stream model of computation, an algorithm processes the edges of an input graph in one or more sequential passes while using a memory sublinear in the input size. This model poses significant challenges for constructing long paths. Many known algorithms tasked with extending an existing path as a subroutine require an entire pass to add a single additional edge. This raises a fundamental question: Are multiple passes inherently necessary to construct paths of non-trivial lengths, or can a single pass suffice? To address this question, we study the Longest Path problem in the one-pass streaming model. In this problem, given a desired approximation factor $α$, the objective is to compute a path of length at least $\lp(G) / α$, where $\lp(G)$ is the length of a longest path in the input graph. We give algorithms as well as space lower bounds for both undirected and directed graphs. Our results include: We show that for undirected graphs, in both the insertion-only and the insertion-deletion models, there are semi-streaming algorithms, that compute a path of length at least $d /3$ with high probability, where $d$ is the average degree of the graph. These algorithms can also yield an $α$-approximation to Longest Path using space $\tilde{O}(n^2 / α)$. Next, we show that such a result cannot be achieved for directed graphs, even in the insertion-only model. We show that computing a $(n^{1 - o(1)})$-approximation to Longest Path in directed graphs in the insertion-only model requires space $Ω(n^2)$. We further show two additional lower bounds. First, we show that semi-streaming space is insufficient for small constant factor approximations to Longest Path for undirected graphs in the insertion-only model. Last, in undirected graphs in the insertion-deletion model, we show that computing an $α$-approximation requires space $Ω(n^2 / α^3)$.
title Constructing Long Paths in Graph Streams
topic Data Structures and Algorithms
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16022