Polynomial-Time Tractable Problems over the p-Adic Numbers

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Contributors

Abstract

We study the computational complexity of fundamental problems over the p-adic numbers ℚp and the p-adic integers ℤp. Guépin, Haase, and Worrell [9] proved that checking satisfiability of systems of linear equations combined with valuation constraints of the form vp(x) = c for p ≥ 5 is NP-complete (both over ℤp and over ℚp), and left the cases p = 2 and p = 3 open. We solve their problem by showing that the problem is NP-complete for ℤ3 and for ℚ3, but that it is in P for ℤ2 and for ℚ2. We also present different polynomial-time algorithms for solvability of systems of linear equations in ℚp with either constraints of the form vp(x) ≤ c or of the form vp(x) ≥ c for c ∈ ℤ. Finally, we show how our algorithms can be used to decide in polynomial time the satisfiability of systems of (strict and non-strict) linear inequalities over ℚ together with valuation constraints vp(x) ≥ c for several different prime numbers p simultaneously.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication50th International Symposium on Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science (MFCS 2025)
EditorsPawel Gawrychowski, Filip Mazowiecki, Michal Skrzypczak
PublisherSchloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing
Pages25:1-25:17
ISBN (electronic)9783959773881
Publication statusPublished - 20 Aug 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

Publication series

SeriesLeibniz international proceedings in informatics : LIPIcs
Volume345
ISSN1868-8969

External IDs

Scopus 105014736594
ORCID /0000-0001-8228-3611/work/208071911

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • NP-hardness, p-adic numbers, constraint satisfaction, linear theory, existential theory, polynomial-time algorithm, linear program feasibility