PARAMETERIZED COMPLEXITY THEORY—A PRIMER

Abstract

Abstract This chapter introduces basic concepts which are necessary for an understanding of this subject, beginning with a close look at parameterized algorithmics. It briefly highlights the central aspects of the theory, defining parameterized problems, fixed-parameter tractability, parameterized reductions, and the parameterized complexity class W[1] representing parameterized hardness. In addition, it also indicates the limitations of the theory, focussing on different sorts of combinatorial explosions.