Briefly, we review the basic elements of computability theory and prob­ ability theory that are required. Finally, in order to place the subject in the appropriate historical and conceptual context we trace the main roots of Kolmogorov complexity. This way the stage is set for Chapters 2 and 3, where we introduce the notion of optimal effective descriptions of objects. The length of such a description (or the number of bits of information in it) is its Kolmogorov complexity. We treat all aspects of the elementary mathematical theory of Kolmogorov complexity. This body of knowledge may be called algo­ rithmic complexity theory. The theory of Martin-Lof tests for random­ ness of finite objects and infinite sequences is inextricably intertwined with the theory of Kolmogorov complexity and is completely treated. We also investigate the statistical properties of finite strings with high Kolmogorov complexity. Both of these topics are eminently useful in the applications part of the book. We also investigate the recursion­ theoretic properties of Kolmogorov complexity (relations with Godel''s incompleteness result), and the Kolmogorov complexity version of infor­ mation theory, which we may call "algorithmic information theory" or "absolute information theory. " The treatment of algorithmic probability theory in Chapter 4 presup­ poses Sections 1. 6, 1. 11. 2, and Chapter 3 (at least Sections 3. 1 through 3. 4).

This must-read textbook presents an essential introduction to Kolmogorov complexity (KC), a central theory and powerful tool in information science that deals with the quantity of information in individual objects. The text covers both the fundamental concepts and the most important practical applications, supported by a wealth of didactic features.This thoroughly revised and enhanced fourth edition includes new and updated material on, amongst other topics, the Miller-Yu theorem, the Gács-Kučera theorem, the Day-Gács theorem, increasing randomness, short lists computable from an input string containing the incomputable Kolmogorov complexity of the input, the Lovász local lemma, sorting, the algorithmic full Slepian-Wolf theorem for individual strings, multiset normalized information distance and normalized web distance, and conditional universal distribution.Topics and features: describes the mathematical theory of KC, including the theories of algorithmic complexity and algorithmic probability; presents a general theory of inductive reasoning and its applications, and reviews the utility of the incompressibility method; covers the practical application of KC in great detail, including the normalized information distance (the similarity metric) and information diameter of multisets in phylogeny, language trees, music, heterogeneous files, and clustering; discusses the many applications of resource-bounded KC, and examines different physical theories from a KC point of view; includes numerous examples that elaborate the theory, and a range of exercises of varying difficulty (with solutions); offers explanatory asides on technical issues, and extensive historical sections; suggests structures for several one-semester courses in the preface.As the definitive textbook on Kolmogorov complexity, this comprehensive and self-contained work is an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers in all fields of science.

This must-read textbook presents an essential introduction to Kolmogorov complexity (KC), a central theory and powerful tool in information science that deals with the quantity of information in individual objects. The text covers both the fundamental concepts and the most important practical applications, supported by a wealth of didactic features.

This thoroughly revised and enhanced fourth edition includes new and updated material on, amongst other topics, the Miller-Yu theorem, the Gács-Kučera theorem, the Day-Gács theorem, increasing randomness, short lists computable from an input string containing the incomputable Kolmogorov complexity of the input, the Lovász local lemma, sorting, the algorithmic full Slepian-Wolf theorem for individual strings, multiset normalized information distance and normalized web distance, and conditional universal distribution.

Topics and features: describes the mathematical theory of KC, including the theories of algorithmic complexity and algorithmic probability; presents a general theory of inductive reasoning and its applications, and reviews the utility of the incompressibility method; covers the practical application of KC in great detail, including the normalized information distance (the similarity metric) and information diameter of multisets in phylogeny, language trees, music, heterogeneous files, and clustering; discusses the many applications of resource-bounded KC, and examines different physical theories from a KC point of view; includes numerous examples that elaborate the theory, and a range of exercises of varying difficulty (with solutions); offers explanatory asides on technical issues, and extensive historical sections; suggests structures for several one-semester courses in the preface.

As the definitive textbook on Kolmogorov complexity, this comprehensive and self-contained work is an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers in all fields of science.

This volume presents the proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Distributed Algorithms (WDAG '94), held on the island of Terschelling, The Netherlands in September 1994.Besides the 23 research papers carefully selected by the program committee, the book contains 3 invited papers. The volume covers all relevant aspects of distributed algorithms; the topics discussed include network protocols, distributed control and communication, real-time systems, dynamic algorithms, self-stabilizing algorithms, synchronization, graph algorithms, wait-free algorithms, mechanisms for security, replicating data, and distributed databases.

Briefly, we review the basic elements of computability theory and prob­ ability theory that are required. Finally, in order to place the subject in the appropriate historical and conceptual context we trace the main roots of Kolmogorov complexity. This way the stage is set for Chapters 2 and 3, where we introduce the notion of optimal effective descriptions of objects. The length of such a description (or the number of bits of information in it) is its Kolmogorov complexity. We treat all aspects of the elementary mathematical theory of Kolmogorov complexity. This body of knowledge may be called algo­ rithmic complexity theory. The theory of Martin-Lof tests for random­ ness of finite objects and infinite sequences is inextricably intertwined with the theory of Kolmogorov complexity and is completely treated. We also investigate the statistical properties of finite strings with high Kolmogorov complexity. Both of these topics are eminently useful in the applications part of the book. We also investigate the recursion­ theoretic properties of Kolmogorov complexity (relations with Godel''s incompleteness result), and the Kolmogorov complexity version of infor­ mation theory, which we may call "algorithmic information theory" or "absolute information theory. " The treatment of algorithmic probability theory in Chapter 4 presup­ poses Sections 1. 6, 1. 11. 2, and Chapter 3 (at least Sections 3. 1 through 3. 4).

This must-read textbook presents an essential introduction to Kolmogorov complexity (KC), a central theory and powerful tool in information science that deals with the quantity of information in individual objects. The text covers both the fundamental concepts and the most important practical applications, supported by a wealth of didactic features.This thoroughly revised and enhanced fourth edition includes new and updated material on, amongst other topics, the Miller-Yu theorem, the Gács-Kučera theorem, the Day-Gács theorem, increasing randomness, short lists computable from an input string containing the incomputable Kolmogorov complexity of the input, the Lovász local lemma, sorting, the algorithmic full Slepian-Wolf theorem for individual strings, multiset normalized information distance and normalized web distance, and conditional universal distribution.Topics and features: describes the mathematical theory of KC, including the theories of algorithmic complexity and algorithmic probability; presents a general theory of inductive reasoning and its applications, and reviews the utility of the incompressibility method; covers the practical application of KC in great detail, including the normalized information distance (the similarity metric) and information diameter of multisets in phylogeny, language trees, music, heterogeneous files, and clustering; discusses the many applications of resource-bounded KC, and examines different physical theories from a KC point of view; includes numerous examples that elaborate the theory, and a range of exercises of varying difficulty (with solutions); offers explanatory asides on technical issues, and extensive historical sections; suggests structures for several one-semester courses in the preface.As the definitive textbook on Kolmogorov complexity, this comprehensive and self-contained work is an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers in all fields of science.

This must-read textbook presents an essential introduction to Kolmogorov complexity (KC), a central theory and powerful tool in information science that deals with the quantity of information in individual objects. The text covers both the fundamental concepts and the most important practical applications, supported by a wealth of didactic features.

This thoroughly revised and enhanced fourth edition includes new and updated material on, amongst other topics, the Miller-Yu theorem, the Gács-Kučera theorem, the Day-Gács theorem, increasing randomness, short lists computable from an input string containing the incomputable Kolmogorov complexity of the input, the Lovász local lemma, sorting, the algorithmic full Slepian-Wolf theorem for individual strings, multiset normalized information distance and normalized web distance, and conditional universal distribution.

Topics and features: describes the mathematical theory of KC, including the theories of algorithmic complexity and algorithmic probability; presents a general theory of inductive reasoning and its applications, and reviews the utility of the incompressibility method; covers the practical application of KC in great detail, including the normalized information distance (the similarity metric) and information diameter of multisets in phylogeny, language trees, music, heterogeneous files, and clustering; discusses the many applications of resource-bounded KC, and examines different physical theories from a KC point of view; includes numerous examples that elaborate the theory, and a range of exercises of varying difficulty (with solutions); offers explanatory asides on technical issues, and extensive historical sections; suggests structures for several one-semester courses in the preface.

As the definitive textbook on Kolmogorov complexity, this comprehensive and self-contained work is an invaluable resource for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers in all fields of science.

This volume presents the proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Distributed Algorithms (WDAG '94), held on the island of Terschelling, The Netherlands in September 1994.Besides the 23 research papers carefully selected by the program committee, the book contains 3 invited papers. The volume covers all relevant aspects of distributed algorithms; the topics discussed include network protocols, distributed control and communication, real-time systems, dynamic algorithms, self-stabilizing algorithms, synchronization, graph algorithms, wait-free algorithms, mechanisms for security, replicating data, and distributed databases.