The Discrepancy Method
Randomness and Complexity

Explores the link between discrepancy theory and randomized algorithms.

Bernard Chazelle (Author)

9780521770934, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 July 2000

494 pages, 160 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 3.2 cm, 0.89 kg

' … the main point is that by presenting the discrepancy method in such an impressive way as this book does, the author helps us to imagine the fantastic possibilities that randomization opens up to everybody, and he shows that current research in theoretical computer science has an astonishing impact on common fundamentals of all sciences. I believe that any reader interested in principal questions will enjoy this book.' The Computer Journal

The discrepancy method is the glue that binds randomness and complexity. It is the bridge between randomized computation and discrepancy theory, the area of mathematics concerned with irregularities in distributions. The discrepancy method has played a major role in complexity theory; in particular, it has caused a mini-revolution of sorts in computational geometry. This book tells the story of the discrepancy method in a few short independent vignettes. It is a varied tale which includes such topics as communication complexity, pseudo-randomness, rapidly mixing Markov chains, points on the sphere and modular forms, derandomization, convex hulls, Voronoi diagrams, linear programming and extensions, geometric sampling, VC-dimension theory, minimum spanning trees, linear circuit complexity, and multidimensional searching. The mathematical treatment is thorough and self-contained. In particular, background material in discrepancy theory is supplied as needed. Thus the book should appeal to students and researchers in computer science, operations research, pure and applied mathematics, and engineering.

1. Combinatorial discrepancy
2. Upper bounds in geometric discrepancy
3. Lower bounds in geometric discrepancy
4. Sampling
5. Geometric searching
6. Complexity lower bounds
7. Convex hulls and Voronoi diagrams
8. Linear programming and extensions
9. Pseudo-randomness
10. Communication complexity
11. Minimum spanning trees
A. Probability theory
B. Harmonic analysis
C. Convex geometry.

Subject Areas: Mathematical theory of computation [UYA], Mathematical foundations [PBC]