The Taming of the Semi-Linear Set

Semi-linear sets, which are finitely generated subsets of the monoid (Z,+), have numerous applications in theoretical computer science. Although semi-linear sets are usually given implicitly, by formulas in Presburger arithmetic or by other means, the effect of Boolean operations on semi-linear sets in terms of the size of generators has primarily been studied for explicit representations. In this paper, we develop a framework suitable for implicitly presented semi-linear sets, in which the size of a semi-linear set is characterized by its norm—the maximal magnitude of a generator. We put together a “toolbox” of operations and decompositions for semi-linear sets which give bounds in terms of the norm (as opposed to just the bit-size of the description), a unified presentation, and simplified proofs. This toolbox, in particular, provides exponentially better bounds for the complement and set-theoretic difference. We also obtain bounds on unambiguous decompositions and, as an application of the toolbox, settle the complexity of the equivalence problem for exponent-sensitive commutative grammars. 1998 ACM Subject Classification G.2 Discrete Mathematics