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Questions tagged [traveling-salesman-problem]

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12 votes
0 answers
271 views

What is known about G. A. Croes

G. A. Croes is the author of the first description of the 2-opt moves heuristic for improving non-optimal traveling salesman tours: Croes, G. A. “A Method for Solving Traveling-Salesman Problems.” ...
1 vote
1 answer
115 views

$\mathrm{LP}$ formulation for $\mathrm{k}$-$\operatorname{opt}$ moves

$\mathrm{k}$-$\operatorname{opt}$ moves are an idea to improve non-optimal Hamilton cycles in weighted symmetric graphs by exchanging $\mathrm{k}$ tour-edges with $\mathrm{k}$ edges that do not belong ...
6 votes
0 answers
104 views

Knotted Traveling Salesperson route

Let us consider fixed points in space, if we apply the well-known Traveling Salesperson Problem algorithm, we get the shortest route. It can give a nontrivial knot in the three-space. The question is ...
5 votes
1 answer
355 views

How do you traverse a rectangular grid of points while turning as little as possible?

Suppose I have a lattice grid of $m \times n$ points in the plane, with $m\leq n$. I want to traverse this grid in such a way as to minimize the total amount of turning that occurs. I am pretty sure ...
2 votes
2 answers
163 views

References for geometric properties of optimal Euclidean traveling salesman tour

Consider a finite set of points $V \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2 $ as a TSP-instance under the standard $\| \cdot \|_2$ norm. (TSP stands for traveling salesman tour.) We know that every optimal TSP tour $T$ ...
1 vote
0 answers
61 views

A generalized/set hamiltonian cycle problem on directed graphs

So this problem originally stems from the asymmetric generalized/set TSP problem, where I am interested in asking the question which or how many edges I can delete while maintaining feasability. The ...
0 votes
0 answers
26 views

Monotony of enforced subtour merging

Is it true that for a symmetric TSP instance in the sequence of edges generated by successively: calculating the optimal 2-factor adding cardinality constraints on the edgesets of the 2-factor's ...
1 vote
0 answers
52 views

Complexity of the TSP for hypercube graphs

Question: what is known about the complexity of finding the Hamilton cycle of minimum weight in graphs that resemble hypercubes with weighted edges?
2 votes
1 answer
133 views

Constructing optimal Hamilton cycles from optimal Hamilton paths

Question: can the shortest Hamilton cycle in a complete symmetric graph with weighted edges be constructed from the shortest Hamilton path in the same graph by connecting its ends and then exchanging ...
0 votes
0 answers
99 views

Reformulate Traveling Salesman Problem in areas traversed problem

I was wondering whether one has ever considered to reformulate TSP in terms of the areas traversed in either direction. Thus take three initial points of the solution they span a triangle with a ...
0 votes
0 answers
185 views

Adapting Held–Karp algorithm to visit groups of vertices

The Held–Karp algorithm has exponential time complexity $\Theta\left(2^n n^2\right)$, which is better than brute forcing the TSP which requires $\Theta(n !)$. I'm interesting in amending the Held–Karp ...
3 votes
1 answer
161 views

Fastest algorithm for calculating optimal tours in weighted $K_5$

Weighted $K_5$ have the unique property that their edge set can be interpreted as the disjoint union of their shortest and their longest Hamilton cycle. That makes $K_5$ attractive for designing new ...
1 vote
0 answers
93 views

Traveling Salesman: Optimization over cities, not distance

In the classical traveling salesman problem, we are given a graph of cities with distances between each city and are asked to find the shortest path that traverses all of the cities. Meaning that the ...
-2 votes
2 answers
149 views

Greedy euclidean tour expansion - a case of unexpected hanging?

In the euclidean plane an common heuristic for the TSP is to start with the convex hull of the point set and then successively integrate as the next point and insertion position the combination that ...
0 votes
1 answer
117 views

Traveling salesperson problem algorithm [closed]

I was wondering something, let's say in a symmetric distance matrix of a sample of TSP, there was a sure algorithm that could remove between 30% to 80% of the values (distances) that wouldn't ...
2 votes
1 answer
189 views

Trying to understand "moats"

According to the TSP Gallery moats provide lower bounds for the optimal solution of TSP instances. On the webpage they are depicted as blue rings around red disks, whose radii represent maximal vertex ...
1 vote
1 answer
109 views

Characterization of greedy TSPs?

Define a greedy tour of a set $S=\{p_1,\ldots,p_n\}$ of $n$ points in $\mathbb{R}^2$ as produced by selecting the $i$-th point $p_i$ to start, and then connecting to the nearest neighbor $p_j$ to $p_i$...
0 votes
0 answers
26 views

Are there any examples of "autonomous" TSP heuristics

By "autonomous" TSP heuristic I mean algorithms whose reported edge-set for a short Hamilton cycle is invariant under the addition of vertex weights; the terminology is borrowed from ...
-1 votes
1 answer
243 views

Helsgaun's $k$-Opt moves

In his 2009 paper General k-opt submoves for the Lin–Kernighan TSP heuristic, Helsgaun defines the local tour improvements on which the LKH heuristics are based as: with a cycle defined here: which ...
1 vote
0 answers
35 views

How to chose the start vector for the MTZ variables

In the context of LP-formulations for the Traveling Salesman Problem the MTZ constraints prevent subtours via $n$ (i.e. effectively $n-1$) additional variables $$u_1=1\\2\le u_2,\,\dots ,\,u_n\le n\\ ...
0 votes
0 answers
40 views

Subtour-gluing constraints for ILP formulation of TSPs

If one doesn't want to introduce additional variables to the ILP of a TSP instance, one has to add exponentially many so-called subtour-elimination constraints; in practical calculations subtour-...
1 vote
1 answer
82 views

Do we really need degree constraints for ILP formulations of TSP problems

The Dantzig-Fulkerson ILP-formulation of the symmetric TSP is $$\min\sum\limits_{i=1}^{n-1}\sum\limits_{j=i+1}^n c_{ij}x_{\lbrace i,j\rbrace}\quad\text{s.t.}\\ \sum\limits_{j\ne i,\,j=1}^n x_{\lbrace ...
0 votes
0 answers
78 views

TSP on a unitary circle

I am interested in knowing which is the expected length of a random path in a circle. That is, if there are $n$ random points located in the unitary circle $\{(x,y): x^2+y^2\leq 1\}$, what is the ...
0 votes
0 answers
64 views

Degree-constraints for the existence of vertex-disjoint directed cycle covers in digraphs

Given a digraph $G(E,V): (u,v)\in E\implies(v,u)\notin E$, what is known about lower bounds on the indegree and outdegree of the vertices that guarantee the existence of a vertex-disjoint directed ...
1 vote
1 answer
173 views

Could you provide some TSP examples from real world to test a new algorithm?

It's well known that to find a hamilton cycle is NPC, while TSP is NPH. But it seems that for majority of graphs (density of edge > 0.1, order > 100) there is a fast algorithm to find different ...
0 votes
0 answers
77 views

Travelling salesman problem with variable weights

Take a fully connected graph with $v$ vertices. We assign weights to edges using an arbitrary function $f_{ij}(x)$ for pairs of vertices $0 < i, j \le v$, then starting at $c_{0}=0$, traverse the ...
0 votes
1 answer
54 views

Relation of 1-trees to optimal tours

Question: given a complete symmetric graph $G(V,E)$ with $n$ vertices and edges $e_{ij}$ having weight $\omega_{ij}$, does there always exists a vector of vertex potentials $(\pi_1,\,\dots,\,\pi_n)$ ...
3 votes
0 answers
87 views

Additional symmetries of the Traveling Salesman Polytope

Given the complete graph $K_n=(V,E)$, the Traveling Salesman Polytope is a convex polytope in $\Bbb R^E$ obtained as the convex hull of the indicator vectors of (edge-sets of) Hamiltonian cycles in $...
1 vote
1 answer
347 views

Algorithm for multiple travelling salesmen problem with given starting point and end point

Given: Set of n>0 cities is to be traversed by m>0 salespeople Where all the salespeople: Are positioned at the same starting city; Finish at a same destination (which different from starting ...
0 votes
0 answers
59 views

A variant of travel salesman problem with charging points

Given a graph composed of a set $V$ of nodes, each representing a point to be visited by a salesman, and a set of fixed charging points. The salesman disposes a car that can travel $D$ distance before ...
11 votes
1 answer
404 views

Traveling Salesman Problem on finite group

Given a finite group $H$, define a norm on $H$ to be a function $f : H \rightarrow \mathbb{R}_{\geq 0}$ satisfying: $f(x) = 0 \iff x = e$ is the identity; $\forall x \in H$, we have $f(x) = f(x^{-1})$...
2 votes
1 answer
139 views

Description of Linear Time Algorithm for TSP in Halin Graphs

I am looking for a description of the linear time algorithm for the TSP in Halin graphs, that was given in "G. Cornuejols, D. Naddef, and W.R. Pulleyblank. Halin graphs and the travelling ...
3 votes
1 answer
262 views

What is known about this TSP variant?

Euclidian (planar) TSP asks for a tour with the minimum total length. The problem is known to be NP-hard. I am interested in the variant of finding a closed tour with the minimum enclosed area (...
9 votes
4 answers
692 views

What would $\mathcal{P} \neq \mathcal{NP}$ tell us about some non-constructive proofs?

Let me sum up my - hopefully correct - understanding of the travelling salesman problem and complexity classes. It's about decision problems: "[...] a decision problem is a problem that can be ...
3 votes
0 answers
145 views

Hamiltonian cycle polytope for the hypercube graph

Let $Q_n$ denote the $n$ dimensional hypercube graph (i.e., graph formed from the vertices and edges of an n-dimensional hypercube). Denote the set of edges and vertices of $Q_n$ by $E_n$ and $V_n$ ...
2 votes
0 answers
119 views

Corporate salesman problem

A salesman is employed by a large corporation. He has a $n$ cities to visit, connected by roads, forming a graph. But as travel takes a lot of time, he has to pick hotels between visits. He cannot ...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a lower bound for the computational complexity of the traveling salesman problem?

A (non-mathematician) acquaintance of mine recently proposed to me a polynomial-time algorithm for solving the traveling salesman problem. While I was able to point out a flaw in his approach, it did ...
11 votes
1 answer
835 views

Generalized Euclidean TSP

Suppose I have n sets $X_1,\dots,X_n$ consisting of $k$ points each, where all $nk$ points are i.i.d. uniform random samples in the unit square $[0,1]\times[0,1]$. Consider the shortest path that ...
4 votes
2 answers
418 views

What Kind of Graph is This?

I am currently developing TSP heuristics that aim at symmetrically reducing the original, complete and undirected graph. The overarching rationale is that the reduction is done via a sequence of ...