The "RAM" part of the real RAM model name stands for "random-access machine". This is a model of computing that resembles a simplified version of a standard computer architecture. It consists of a stored program, a computer memory unit consisting of an array of cells, and a central processing unit with a bounded number of registers. Each memory cell or register can store a real number. Under the control of the program, the real RAM can transfer real numbers between memory and registers, and perform arithmetic operations on the values stored in the registers.
The allowed operations typically include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, as well as comparisons, but not modulus or rounding to integers. The reason for avoiding integer rounding and modulus operations is that allowing these operations could give the real RAM unreasonable amounts of computational power, enabling it to solve PSPACE-complete problems in polynomial time.[2]
When analyzing algorithms for the real RAM, each allowed operation is typically assumed to take constant time.
ImplementationEdit
Software libraries such as LEDA have been developed which allow programmers to write computer programs that work as if they were running on a real RAM. These libraries represent real values using data structures which allow them to perform arithmetic and comparisons with the same results as a real RAM would produce. For example, In LEDA, real numbers are represented using the leda_real datatype, which supports k-th roots for any natural number k, rational operators, and comparison operators.[3] The time analysis of the underlying real RAM algorithm using these real datatypes can be interpreted as counting the number of library calls needed by a given algorithm.[4]
Related modelsEdit
The real RAM closely resembles the later Blum–Shub–Smale machine.[5] However, the real RAM is typically used for the analysis of concrete algorithms in computational geometry, while the Blum–Shub–Smale machine instead forms the basis for extensions of the theory of NP-completeness to real-number computation.
An alternative to the real RAM is the word RAM, in which both the inputs to a problem and the values stored in memory and registers are assumed to be integers with a fixed number of bits. The word RAM model can perform some operations more quickly than the real RAM; for instance, it allows fast integer sorting algorithms, while sorting on the real RAM must be done with slower comparison sorting algorithms. However, some computational geometry problems have inputs or outputs that cannot be represented exactly using integer coordinates; see for instance the Perles configuration, an arrangement of points and line segments that has no integer-coordinate representation.
ReferencesEdit
^Shamos, Michael Ian (1978), Computational Geometry, Ph.D. dissertation, Yale University.
^Melhorn, Kurt; Näher, Stefan (1999). The LEDA Platform of Combinatorial and Geometric Computing. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
^Mehlhorn, Kurt; Schirra, Stefan (2001), "Exact computation with leda_real—theory and geometric applications" (PDF), Symbolic Algebraic Methods and Verification Methods (Dagstuhl, 1999), Springer, pp. 163–172, doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-6280-4_16, ISBN978-3-211-83593-7, MR 1832422.
Geometric Computing The Science of Making Geometric Algorithms Work
August 30, 2023
real, computing, especially, computational, geometry, real, random, access, machine, mathematical, model, computer, that, compute, with, exact, real, numbers, instead, binary, fixed, point, floating, point, numbers, used, most, actual, computers, real, formula. In computing especially computational geometry a real RAM random access machine is a mathematical model of a computer that can compute with exact real numbers instead of the binary fixed point or floating point numbers used by most actual computers The real RAM was formulated by Michael Ian Shamos in his 1978 Ph D dissertation 1 Contents 1 Model 2 Implementation 3 Related models 4 References 5 External linksModel EditThe RAM part of the real RAM model name stands for random access machine This is a model of computing that resembles a simplified version of a standard computer architecture It consists of a stored program a computer memory unit consisting of an array of cells and a central processing unit with a bounded number of registers Each memory cell or register can store a real number Under the control of the program the real RAM can transfer real numbers between memory and registers and perform arithmetic operations on the values stored in the registers The allowed operations typically include addition subtraction multiplication and division as well as comparisons but not modulus or rounding to integers The reason for avoiding integer rounding and modulus operations is that allowing these operations could give the real RAM unreasonable amounts of computational power enabling it to solve PSPACE complete problems in polynomial time 2 When analyzing algorithms for the real RAM each allowed operation is typically assumed to take constant time Implementation EditSoftware libraries such as LEDA have been developed which allow programmers to write computer programs that work as if they were running on a real RAM These libraries represent real values using data structures which allow them to perform arithmetic and comparisons with the same results as a real RAM would produce For example In LEDA real numbers are represented using the leda real datatype which supports k th roots for any natural number k rational operators and comparison operators 3 The time analysis of the underlying real RAM algorithm using these real datatypes can be interpreted as counting the number of library calls needed by a given algorithm 4 Related models EditThe real RAM closely resembles the later Blum Shub Smale machine 5 However the real RAM is typically used for the analysis of concrete algorithms in computational geometry while the Blum Shub Smale machine instead forms the basis for extensions of the theory of NP completeness to real number computation An alternative to the real RAM is the word RAM in which both the inputs to a problem and the values stored in memory and registers are assumed to be integers with a fixed number of bits The word RAM model can perform some operations more quickly than the real RAM for instance it allows fast integer sorting algorithms while sorting on the real RAM must be done with slower comparison sorting algorithms However some computational geometry problems have inputs or outputs that cannot be represented exactly using integer coordinates see for instance the Perles configuration an arrangement of points and line segments that has no integer coordinate representation References Edit Shamos Michael Ian 1978 Computational Geometry Ph D dissertation Yale University Schonhage Arnold 1979 On the power of random access machines Proceedings of the Sixth International Colloquium on Automata Languages and Programming ICALP 79 Lecture Notes in Computer Science vol 71 Springer pp 520 529 doi 10 1007 3 540 09510 1 42 ISBN 978 3 540 09510 1 MR 0573259 Melhorn Kurt Naher Stefan 1999 The LEDA Platform of Combinatorial and Geometric Computing Cambridge University Press Retrieved 12 November 2019 Mehlhorn Kurt Schirra Stefan 2001 Exact computation with leda real theory and geometric applications PDF Symbolic Algebraic Methods and Verification Methods Dagstuhl 1999 Springer pp 163 172 doi 10 1007 978 3 7091 6280 4 16 ISBN 978 3 211 83593 7 MR 1832422 Blum Lenore Shub Mike Smale Steve 1989 On a theory of computation and complexity over the real numbers NP completeness recursive functions and universal machines Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 21 1 1 46 doi 10 1090 S0273 0979 1989 15750 9 Zbl 0681 03020 External links EditFeasible Real Random Access Machines References Geometric Computing The Science of Making Geometric Algorithms Work Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Real RAM amp oldid 1103353475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
