Friedman's SSCG function

Last updated

In mathematics, a simple subcubic graph (SSCG) is a finite simple graph in which each vertex has a degree of at most three. Suppose we have a sequence of simple subcubic graphs G1, G2, ... such that each graph Gi has at most i + k vertices (for some integer k) and for no i < j is Gi homeomorphically embeddable into (i.e. is a graph minor of) Gj.

The Robertson–Seymour theorem proves that subcubic graphs (simple or not) are well-founded by homeomorphic embeddability, implying such a sequence cannot be infinite. Then, by applying Kőnig's lemma on the tree of such sequences under extension, for each value of k there is a sequence with maximal length. The function SSCG(k) [1] denotes that length for simple subcubic graphs. The function SCG(k) [2] denotes that length for (general) subcubic graphs.

The SCG sequence begins SCG(0) = 6, but then explodes to a value equivalent to fε2*2 in the fast-growing hierarchy.

The SSCG sequence begins slower than SCG, SSCG(0) = 2, SSCG(1) = 5, but then grows rapidly. SSCG(2) = 3 × 2(3 × 295) − 8 ≈ 3.241704 × 1035775080127201286522908640065. Its first and last 20 digits are 32417042291246009846...34057047399148290040. SSCG(2) has in total 35775080127201286522908640066 digits. SSCG(3) is much larger than both TREE(3) and TREETREE(3)(3), that is, the TREE function nested TREE(3) times with 3 at the bottom.

Adam P. Goucher claims there is no qualitative difference between the asymptotic growth rates of SSCG and SCG. He writes "It's clear that SCG(n) ≥ SSCG(n), but I can also prove SSCG(4n + 3) ≥ SCG(n)." [3]

The function was proposed and studied by Harvey Friedman.

See also

Related Research Articles

In mathematics, the Cantor set is a set of points lying on a single line segment that has a number of unintuitive properties. It was discovered in 1874 by Henry John Stephen Smith and mentioned by German mathematician Georg Cantor in 1883.

In the computer science subfield of algorithmic information theory, a Chaitin constant or halting probability is a real number that, informally speaking, represents the probability that a randomly constructed program will halt. These numbers are formed from a construction due to Gregory Chaitin.

<span class="texhtml mvar" style="font-style:italic;">e</span> (mathematical constant) Constant value used in mathematics

The number e is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 2.71828 that is the base of the natural logarithm and exponential function. It is sometimes called Euler's number, after the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler, though this can invite confusion with Euler numbers, or with Euler's constant, a different constant typically denoted . Alternatively, e can be called Napier's constant after John Napier. The Swiss mathematician Jacob Bernoulli discovered the constant while studying compound interest.

In graph theory, a planar graph is a graph that can be embedded in the plane, i.e., it can be drawn on the plane in such a way that its edges intersect only at their endpoints. In other words, it can be drawn in such a way that no edges cross each other. Such a drawing is called a plane graph, or a planar embedding of the graph. A plane graph can be defined as a planar graph with a mapping from every node to a point on a plane, and from every edge to a plane curve on that plane, such that the extreme points of each curve are the points mapped from its end nodes, and all curves are disjoint except on their extreme points.

In mathematics, the branch of real analysis studies the behavior of real numbers, sequences and series of real numbers, and real functions. Some particular properties of real-valued sequences and functions that real analysis studies include convergence, limits, continuity, smoothness, differentiability and integrability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surface (topology)</span> Two-dimensional manifold

In the part of mathematics referred to as topology, a surface is a two-dimensional manifold. Some surfaces arise as the boundaries of three-dimensional solid figures; for example, the sphere is the boundary of the solid ball. Other surfaces arise as graphs of functions of two variables; see the figure at right. However, surfaces can also be defined abstractly, without reference to any ambient space. For example, the Klein bottle is a surface that cannot be embedded in three-dimensional Euclidean space.

The Collatz conjecture is one of the most famous unsolved problems in mathematics. The conjecture asks whether repeating two simple arithmetic operations will eventually transform every positive integer into 1. It concerns sequences of integers in which each term is obtained from the previous term as follows: if a term is even, the next term is one half of it. If a term is odd, the next term is 3 times the previous term plus 1. The conjecture is that these sequences always reach 1, no matter which positive integer is chosen to start the sequence. The conjecture has been shown to hold for all positive integers up to 2.95×1020, but no general proof has been found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Complete graph</span> Graph in which every two vertices are adjacent

In the mathematical field of graph theory, a complete graph is a simple undirected graph in which every pair of distinct vertices is connected by a unique edge. A complete digraph is a directed graph in which every pair of distinct vertices is connected by a pair of unique edges.

In mathematics, and more specifically in algebraic topology and polyhedral combinatorics, the Euler characteristic is a topological invariant, a number that describes a topological space's shape or structure regardless of the way it is bent. It is commonly denoted by .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kőnig's lemma</span> Mathematical result on infinite trees

Kőnig's lemma or Kőnig's infinity lemma is a theorem in graph theory due to the Hungarian mathematician Dénes Kőnig who published it in 1927. It gives a sufficient condition for an infinite graph to have an infinitely long path. The computability aspects of this theorem have been thoroughly investigated by researchers in mathematical logic, especially in computability theory. This theorem also has important roles in constructive mathematics and proof theory.

In mathematical logic, a Gödel numbering is a function that assigns to each symbol and well-formed formula of some formal language a unique natural number, called its Gödel number. Kurt Gödel developed the concept for the proof of his incompleteness theorems.

33 (thirty-three) is the natural number following 32 and preceding 34.

This is a glossary of graph theory. Graph theory is the study of graphs, systems of nodes or vertices connected in pairs by lines or edges.

In graph theory, the Robertson–Seymour theorem states that the undirected graphs, partially ordered by the graph minor relationship, form a well-quasi-ordering. Equivalently, every family of graphs that is closed under minors can be defined by a finite set of forbidden minors, in the same way that Wagner's theorem characterizes the planar graphs as being the graphs that do not have the complete graph K5 or the complete bipartite graph K3,3 as minors.

In mathematics, specifically order theory, a well-quasi-ordering or wqo on a set is a quasi-ordering of for which every infinite sequence of elements from contains an increasing pair with

In set theory, the Baire space is the set of all infinite sequences of natural numbers with a certain topology, called the product topology. This space is commonly used in descriptive set theory, to the extent that its elements are often called "reals". It is denoted by , or ωω, or by the symbol or sometimes by ωω.

In mathematics, Kruskal's tree theorem states that the set of finite trees over a well-quasi-ordered set of labels is itself well-quasi-ordered under homeomorphic embedding.

In polyhedral combinatorics, a branch of mathematics, Steinitz's theorem is a characterization of the undirected graphs formed by the edges and vertices of three-dimensional convex polyhedra: they are exactly the 3-vertex-connected planar graphs. That is, every convex polyhedron forms a 3-connected planar graph, and every 3-connected planar graph can be represented as the graph of a convex polyhedron. For this reason, the 3-connected planar graphs are also known as polyhedral graphs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moser–de Bruijn sequence</span> Number, sum of distinct powers of 4

In number theory, the Moser–de Bruijn sequence is an integer sequence named after Leo Moser and Nicolaas Govert de Bruijn, consisting of the sums of distinct powers of 4. Equivalently, they are the numbers whose binary representations are nonzero only in even positions.

References