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Online Algorithm - The Secretary Problem

This document discusses online algorithms and summarizes the secretary problem. It begins by defining online algorithms as strategies that process input sequentially with no knowledge of the future. It then provides examples of online algorithm applications like scheduling and routing. The secretary problem is introduced as a classic problem where applicants arrive randomly and must be immediately accepted or rejected. The optimal strategy is to reject the first n/e applicants and then hire the next person better than the best seen so far, achieving a probability of 1/e of hiring the best applicant. Finally, it discusses generalizations of the secretary problem and how competitive analysis is used to evaluate online algorithms.

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465 views

Online Algorithm - The Secretary Problem

This document discusses online algorithms and summarizes the secretary problem. It begins by defining online algorithms as strategies that process input sequentially with no knowledge of the future. It then provides examples of online algorithm applications like scheduling and routing. The secretary problem is introduced as a classic problem where applicants arrive randomly and must be immediately accepted or rejected. The optimal strategy is to reject the first n/e applicants and then hire the next person better than the best seen so far, achieving a probability of 1/e of hiring the best applicant. Finally, it discusses generalizations of the secretary problem and how competitive analysis is used to evaluate online algorithms.

Uploaded by

TigerHATS
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Online Algorithm The Secretary Problem

Presented by:

TigerHATS
www.tigerhats.org

Monzur Morshed

TigerHATS - Information is power


The International Research group dedicated to Theories, Simulation and Modeling, New Approaches, Applications, Experiences, Development, Evaluations, Education, Human, Cultural and Industrial Technology

Online Algorithm
An online algorithm is a strategy . - that can process its input piece-by-piece in a serial fashion - decides what to do based only on past information and with no (or inexact) knowledge about the future.

Online algorithm

An Online algorithm responds to a sequence of service requests, each an associated cost. If an algorithm is given the entire sequence of service requests in advance, it is said to be an offline algorithm. We often employ a competitive analysis to analyze an online algorithm.

Application of Online Algorithm


Resource Allocation

- Scheduling - Memory Management - Routing


Robot Motion Planning

- Exploring an unknown terrain - Finding a destination


Computational Finance

List of Online Algorithms


Secretary problem K-server problem Greedy algorithm Adversary Model Job shop scheduling List update problem Metrical task systems Odds algorithm Paging Problem Real-time computing Ski rental problem Linear search problem Search games Algorithms for calculating variance Bandit problem Ukkonen's algorithm

Methods of Analysis

Competitive Analysis (Worst Case)

For any input, the cost of online algorithm is


never worse than c times the cost of the optimal offline algorithm.

Pros: can make very robust statements about the performance of a strategy. Cons: results tend to be pessimistic.

Methods of Analysis

Probabilistic Analysis

Assume a distribution generating the input. Find an algorithm which minimizes the
expected cost of the algorithm.

Pros: can incorporate information predicting the future. Cons: can be difficult to determine probability distributions accurately.

Competitive Analysis

if knew whole input in advance, easy to optimize


C MIN ( )

compare to full knowledge optimum

k-competitive if for all sequences :

The Secretary Problem


The secretary problem is one of many names for a famous problem of the optimal stopping theory. The problem has been studied extensively in the fields of applied probability, statistics, and decision theory. It is also known as the marriage problem, the sultan's dowry problem, the fussy suitor problem, the googol game, and the best choice problem.

The Classical Secretary Problem (CSP)

Rules of the game: There is a single secretarial position to fill. There are n applicants for the position, n is known. The applicants can be ranked from best to worst with no ties. The applicants are interviewed sequentially in a random order, with each order being equally likely. After each interview, the applicant is accepted or rejected. The decision to accept or reject an applicant can be based only on the relative ranks of the applicants interviewed so far. Rejected applicants cannot be recalled. The object is to select the best applicant. Win: If you select the best applicant. Lose: otherwise Note: An applicant should be accepted only if it is relatively best among those already observed

CSP Solution Framework

A relatively best applicant is called a candidate Reward Function yj(x1,,xn) = j/n if applicant j is a candidate, = 0 otherwise Lets say the interviewer rejects the first r-1 applicants and then accept the next relatively best applicant. We wish to find the optimal r

The Secretary Algorithm

Algorithm:

Observe first n/e elements. Let v=maximum. Pick the next element whose value is > v.

Theorem: Pr(picking max elt. of S) > 1/e.* Proof: Select best elt. if ith best elt is best in first 1/e elts and best elt is first among best (i-1) elts.
2nd best through (i-1)st best ith best best Threshold time t = n/e time t = n

Happens with probability (1/e) (1-1/e)i (1/i).


* Elements come in a random order.

Generalized Secretary Problems

Input Set of secretaries {1, , n}, each has a value vi Feasible or independent family of subsets of {1, , n} Secretaries arrive in random order, and alg. must decide online whether to select each secretary Goal is to select maximum weight feasible set

Performance measure is competitive ratio: E[weight of selected set]/[weight of max ind. set]

The optimal strategy is appealingly simple: Interview the first applicants without making any hiring decisions, then hire the next applicant whose quality exceeds the best of the first m. If you reach the end of the sequence without hiring anyone, then hire the last applicant no matter what.

CSP Solution Framework Cont.


Probability that the best applicant is selected is n Pr = P ( k th applicant is best and selected) k =r

n = P ( k th applicant is best) P ( k th applicant is selected | it is best) k =r n 1 = P ( best of first k - 1 appears before stage r ) k =r n n 1 r 1 r 1 n 1 = = n k = r k 1 k = r n k 1
** (r-1)/(r-1) = 1 if r = 1

CSP Solution Framework Cont.

For optimal r,

Pr +1 Pr r n 1 r 1 n 1 n r +1 k 1 n r k 1
r +1 n

1 1 k 1

r* = min{r 1 :
n r* P 1 1 2 1 3 2 4 2 5 3

1 1} r +1 k 1
6 3 7 3 8 4 9 4

1.000 0.500

0.500 0.458 0.433 0.428

0.414 0.410 0.406

CSP for large n


If n is large, 1 n k 1 log( r ) r +1 log (n/r*) = 1 r* = n / e Pr* = e = 0.368
1 n

Thank you

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