Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Shannon [ 307 ] developed lower bounds for two-terminal switching circuits of the type
given in Section 2.12 on circuit size. Muller [ 224 ] extended the techniques of Shannon to
derive the lower bounds on circuit size given in Theorem 2.12.1 . Shannon and Riordan [ 281 ]
developed a lower bound of Ω( 2 n / log n ) on the size of Boolean formulas, circuits in which the
fan-out of each gate is 1. As seen in Chapter 9 , such bounds readily translate into lower bounds
on depth of the form given Theorem 2.12.2 . Gaskov, using the Lupanov representation, has
derived a comparable upper bound [ 110 ].
The upper bound on circuit size given in Section 2.13 is due to Lupanov [ 208 ]. Shannon
and Riordan [ 281 ] show that a lower bound of Ω( 2 n / log n ) must apply to the formula size
(see Definition 9.1.1 ) of most Boolean functions on n variables. Given the relationship of
Theorem 9.2.2 between formula size and depth, a depth lower bound of n
log log n
O ( 1 )
follows.
Early work on circuits and circuit complexity is surveyed by Paterson [ 237 ]andcoveredin
depth by Savage [ 287 ]. More recent coverage of this subject is contained in the survey article
by Bopanna and Sipser [ 50 ] and topics by Wegener [ 360 ] and Dunne [ 92 ].
Search WWH ::




Custom Search