Scribd
Upload
29 views4 pages

Notes - NP-Completeness Presentation

The presentation covers NP-Completeness, a key concept in theoretical computer science that categorizes problems based on their solvability and verifiability. It explains the classes P, NP, NP-Hard, and NP-Complete, emphasizing that NP-Complete problems are both verifiable in polynomial time and as hard as any NP problem. The document also discusses the significance of these classifications in real-world applications and the ongoing question of whether P equals NP.

Uploaded by

kalyanimudi1302
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
29 views4 pages

Notes - NP-Completeness Presentation

The presentation covers NP-Completeness, a key concept in theoretical computer science that categorizes problems based on their solvability and verifiability. It explains the classes P, NP, NP-Hard, and NP-Complete, emphasizing that NP-Complete problems are both verifiable in polynomial time and as hard as any NP problem. The document also discusses the significance of these classifications in real-world applications and the ongoing question of whether P equals NP.

Uploaded by

kalyanimudi1302
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Notes: NP-Completeness Presentation

NP-Completeness – Full Slide-by-Slide Notes with


Explanation

Slide 1: Title
Topic: NP-Completeness​
This presentation is about an important concept in theoretical computer science — NP-Completeness. It
helps us understand which problems can be solved efficiently, and which are considered "hard" even with
powerful computers.

Slide 2: Introduction to Complexity


In computer science, every problem has a level of difficulty based on how much time or resources it takes
to solve.​
These problems are grouped into complexity classes. The most common ones are:
●​ P: Problems that can be solved quickly.​

●​ NP: Problems whose solutions can be verified quickly.​

We’ll also look at NP-Hard and NP-Complete problems — which are harder and very important in theory
and real-life.

Slide 3: Class P (Polynomial Time Problems)


Class P includes all decision problems that can be solved in polynomial time using a deterministic algorithm
(normal computer).​
“Polynomial time” means the time taken by the algorithm is O(n), O(n²), O(n³), etc.​
These are considered efficient algorithms.​
Examples:
●​ Binary search → O(log n)
●​ Merge sort → O(n log n)
●​ Matrix multiplication → O(n³)

Slide 4: What is NP?


NP stands for Nondeterministic Polynomial time.​
A problem is in NP if:
1.​ A solution (called a certificate) exists, and
2.​ That solution can be verified in polynomial time.
These problems might be very hard to solve, but if someone gives you the answer, you can check it quickly.
Examples:
●​ Sudoku: Try solving it — hard.
●​ Given a completed Sudoku — easy to verify.

Slide 5: Deterministic vs Non-deterministic


Deterministic algorithms follow a step-by-step fixed path.​
Non-deterministic algorithms assume we can guess the right solution magically, then verify it quickly.​
NP assumes this “magical guessing” — that’s why it contains harder problems.​
On real computers, we simulate this guessing using exponential time.

Slide 6: Polynomial-Time Verification


Verification is the process of checking if a given solution is correct. Even if solving a problem takes a long
time, if we can verify the solution fast, it belongs to NP. Example: In TSP (Travelling Salesman Problem),
checking if a given path is under a certain cost is easy and quick.

Slide 7: NP-Hard Problems


A problem is NP-Hard if it is at least as hard as every problem in NP. It might not even be in NP —
meaning, we might not be able to verify solutions quickly. Solving an NP-Hard problem efficiently would
solve all NP problems efficiently. Examples: Optimization versions of TSP, scheduling problems, code
generation.

Slide 8: NP-Complete Problems


These are the most important class:
●​ They are in NP (solution can be verified in poly time)
●​ They are NP-Hard (as hard as any NP problem)​

If any one NP-Complete problem is solved in polynomial time, then all NP problems can be solved in
polynomial time.​
That would prove P = NP — a huge unsolved question.

Slide 9: How to Prove NP-Completeness


To prove a problem is NP-Complete:
1.​ Show it's in NP (solution can be verified quickly)
2.​ Choose a known NP-Complete problem, and
3.​ Reduce it to your problem using a polynomial-time transformation.​

This shows your problem is at least as hard.

Slide 10: Polynomial-Time Reduction


Suppose problem A is already known to be NP-Complete. If we can convert A into another problem B in
polynomial time, and solving B also solves A, then B is at least as hard as A. This technique is called
polynomial-time reduction. It’s like saying: “If you can solve B, you can also solve A.” So B must be hard
too.
Slide 11: Relationships Between P, NP, NP-Hard, NP-Complete
Think of them as circles:
●​ P: Problems solvable fast.
●​ NP: Problems where answers can be verified fast.
●​ NP-Complete: The hardest problems in NP.
●​ NP-Hard: Can be harder than NP (may not even be verifiable fast).​

If we can solve one NP-Complete problem quickly → P = NP.

Slide 12: Example – SAT Problem


SAT (Satisfiability): Is there an assignment of TRUE/FALSE to variables that makes a Boolean formula
true? It was the first NP-Complete problem (Cook’s Theorem). All other NP problems can be reduced to
SAT. This makes SAT a “universal” hard problem in NP.

Slide 13: Example – TSP


Travelling Salesman Problem: Visit every city exactly once, return to start, and keep total distance ≤ M.
●​ TSP ∈ NP: We can verify a given tour quickly.
●​ TSP is NP-Hard: We can reduce the Hamiltonian Cycle to it. Therefore, TSP is NP-Complete.

Slide 14: Other NP-Complete Problems


Here are some more examples:
●​ 3-SAT
●​ Subset Sum
●​ Vertex Cover
●​ Graph Coloring
●​ Hamiltonian Cycle​

All of these are:


●​ Verifiable quickly
●​ Known to be as hard as any NP problem

Slide 15: Real-World Relevance


NP-Complete problems are not just theory.​
They show up in:
●​ Routing and logistics (TSP)
●​ Circuit design (SAT)
●​ Job scheduling (subset sum)
●​ Security and cryptography​

Knowing these are NP-Complete tells us to stop looking for perfect solutions and try approximations.
Slide 16: Why NP-Completeness Matters
●​ Helps us identify impossible tasks in computing.
●​ Helps us save time by knowing when not to search for an exact algorithm.
●​ Pushes us to use approximations or heuristics for practical use.​

It also connects math, logic, and computer science deeply.

Slide 17: Summary


●​ P: Solvable fast
●​ NP: Verifiable fast
●​ NP-Hard: At least as hard as NP
●​ NP-Complete: Both in NP and NP-Hard

Open question: Does P = NP?​


No one knows — it’s the biggest open problem in CS!

You might also like