On Algorithm-Dependent Boundary Case Identification for Problem Classes

Chao Qian, Yang Yu, Zhi-Hua Zhou

Abstract: Running time analysis of metaheuristic search algorithms has attracted a lot of attention. When studying a metaheuristic algorithm over a problem class, a natural question is what are the easiest and the hardest cases of the problem class. The answer can be helpful for simplifying the analysis of an algorithm over a problem class as well as understanding the strength and weakness of an algorithm. This algorithm-dependent boundary case identification problem is investigated in this paper. We derive a general theorem for the identification, and apply it to a case that the (1+1)-EA with mutation probability less than 0.5 is used over the problem class of pseudo-Boolean functions with a unique global optimum.