Convex Polygons in Cartesian Products

We study several problems concerning convex polygons whose vertices lie in a Cartesian product (for short, grid) of two sets of n real numbers. First, we prove that every such grid contains a convex polygon with $Omega$(log n) vertices and that this bound is tight up to a constant factor. We generalize this result to d dimensions (for a fixed d $in$ N), and obtain a tight lower bound of $Omega$(log d--1 n) for the maximum number of points in convex position in a d-dimensional grid. Second, we present polynomial-time algorithms for computing the largest convex chain in a grid that contains no two points of the same x-or y-coordinate. We show how to efficiently approximate the maximum size of a supported convex polygon up to a factor of 2. Finally, we present exponential bounds on the maximum number of convex polygons in these grids, and for some restricted variants. These bounds are tight up to polynomial factors.

Approximation algorithms for TSP with neighborhoods in the plane

In the Euclidean TSP with neighborhoods (TSPN), we are given a collection of n regions (neighborhoods) and we seek a shortest tour that visits each region. As a generalization of the classical Euclidean TSP, TSPN is also NP-hard. In this paper, we present new approximation results for the TSPN, including (1) a constant-factor approximation algorithm for the case of arbitrary connected neighborhoods having comparable diameters; and (2) a PTAS for the important special case of disjoint unit disk neighborhoods (or nearly disjoint, nearly-unit disks). Our methods also yield improved approximation ratios for various special classes of neighborhoods, which have previously been studied. Further, we give a linear-time O(1)-approximation algorithm for the case of neighborhoods that are (infinite) straight lines.

Covering Paths for Planar Point Sets

Given $n$ points in the plane, a emph{covering path} is a polygonal path that visits all the points. If no three points are collinear, every covering path requires at least $n/2$ segments, and $n-1$ straight line segments obviously suffice even if the covering path is required to be noncrossing. We show that every set of $n$ points in the plane admits a (possibly self-crossi ng) covering path consisting of $n/2 +O(n/log{n})$ straight line segments. If the path is required to be noncrossing, we prove that $(1-eps)n$ straight line segments suffice for a small constant $eps>0$, and we exhibit $n$-element point sets that require at least $5n/9 -O(1)$ segments in every such path. Further, the analogous question for noncrossing emph{covering trees} is considered and similar bounds are obtained. Finally, it is shown that computing a noncrossing covering path for $n$ points in the plane requires $Omega(n log{n})$ time in the worst case.

Coloring translates and homothets of a convex body

We obtain improved upper bounds and new lower bounds on the chromatic number as a linear function of the clique number, for the intersection graphs (and their complements) of finite families of translates and homothets of a convex body in $RR^n$.