Adding Constraints -- A (Seemingly Counterintuitive but) Useful Heuristic in Solving Difficult Problems

Authors

Olga Kosheleva, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Martine Ceberio, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Vladik Kreinovich, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Publication Date

12-2010

Comments

Technical Report: UTEP-CS-10-57

Published in Proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on Constraint Programming and Decision Making CoProD'11, El Paso, Texas, March 17, 2011.

Abstract

Intuitively, the more constraints we impose on a problem, the more difficult it is to solve it. However, in practice, difficult-to-solve problems sometimes get solved when we impose additional constraints and thus, make the problems seemingly more complex. In this methodological paper, we explain this seemingly counter-intuitive phenomenon, and we show that, dues to this explanation, additional constraints can serve as a useful heuristic in solving difficult problems.