Optimization and NP_R-completeness of certain fewnomials

Abstract

We give a high precision polynomial-time approximation scheme for the supremum of any honest n-variate (n+2)-nomial with a constant term, allowing real exponents as well as real coefficients. Our complexity bounds count field operations and inequality checks, and are polynomial in n and the logarithm of a certain condition number. For the special case of polynomials (i.e., integer exponents), the log of our condition number is sub-quadratic in the sparse size. The best previous complexity bounds were exponential in the size, even for n fixed. Along the way, we partially extend the theory of A-discriminants to real exponents and exponential sums, and find new and natural NPR-complete problems.