NIST

symmetry breaking

(algorithmic technique)

Definition: To differentiate parts of a structure, such as a graph, which locally look the same to all vertices. Usually implemented with randomization.

Note: From Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, page 47-40, Copyright © 1999 by CRC Press LLC. Appearing in the Dictionary of Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Copyright © 2000 CRC Press LLC.

Author: CRC-A


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Entry modified 19 April 2004.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:40 2015.

Cite this as:
Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 1999, "symmetry breaking", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 19 April 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/symmetrybrek.html