Recognizing and realizing cactus metrics

Momoko Hayamizu, Katharina T. Huber, Vincent Moulton*, Yukihiro Murakami

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The problem of realizing finite metric spaces in terms of weighted graphs has many applications. For example, the mathematical and computational properties of metrics that can be realized by trees have been well-studied and such research has laid the foundation of the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees from evolutionary distances. However, as trees may be too restrictive to accurately represent real-world data or phenomena, it is important to understand the relationship between more general graphs and distances. In this paper, we introduce a new type of metric called a cactus metric, that is, a metric that can be realized by a cactus graph. We show that, just as with tree metrics, a cactus metric has a unique optimal realization. In addition, we describe an algorithm that can recognize whether or not a metric is a cactus metric and, if so, compute its optimal realization in O(n3) time, where n is the number of points in the space.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105916
JournalInformation Processing Letters
Volume157
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020 May
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Algorithms
  • Cactus metric
  • Metric realization
  • Optimal realization
  • Phylogenetic network

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Signal Processing
  • Information Systems
  • Computer Science Applications

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