[comp.theory] Wanted: Probabilistic algorithm references

raja@bombay.cps.msu.EDU (Narayan S. Raja) (06/01/90)

I am looking for references to probabilistic
or "randomized" algorithms which perform reasonably
well with combinatorial and other difficult problems.
By "reasonably well", I mean they could:

1.  find optimal solutions in "most" cases
2.  find near-optimal solutions in all cases
3.  find near-optimal solutions in "most" cases


So far I have 3 references, all from the book
"Algorithms and Complexity", ed. J.F. Traub,
Academic Press, 1976.  They are:

1. The Probabilistic Analysis of some Combinatorial
     Search Problems -- Richard M. Karp
2. Probabilistic Algorithms -- Michael O. Rabin
3. Approximation Algorithms for Combinatorial Problems:
     an annotated bibliography -- Garey and Johnson


There must have been a lot of work since 1976  :-)
so I would really appreciate any help (this is not
my area).  I can summarize if it seems worthwhile.

Please EMAIL:   raja@cpsvax.cps.msu.edu
                raja%cpsvax.cps.msu.edu@uunet.uu.net
                uunet.uu.net\!cpsvax.cps.msu.edu\!raja

Thanks in advance,


Narayan Sriranga Raja.