Applications of Davenport-Schinzel sequences arise in areas as diverse as robot motion planning, computer graphics and vision, and pattern matching. These sequences exhibit some surprising properties that make them a fascinating subject for research in combinatorial analysis. This book provides a comprehensive study of the combinatorial properties of Davenport-Schinzel sequences and their numerous geometric applications. These sequences are sophisticated tools for solving problems in computational and combinatorial geometry. This first book on the subject by two of its leading researchers will be an important resource for students and professionals in combinatorics, computational geometry, and related fields.

Several geometric problems can be formulated in terms of the arrangement of a collection of curves in a plane, which has made this one of the most widely studied topics in computational geometry. This book, first published in 1991, presents a study of various problems related to arrangements of lines, segments, or curves in the plane. The first problem is a proof of almost tight bounds on the length of (n,s)-Davenport-Schinzel sequences, a technique for obtaining optimal bounds for numerous algorithmic problems. Then the intersection problem is treated. The final problem is improving the efficiency of partitioning algorithms, particularly those used to construct spanning trees with low stabbing numbers, a very versatile tool in solving geometric problems. A number of applications are also discussed. Researchers in computational and combinatorial geometry should find much to interest them in this book.

These sequences exhibit some surprising properties that make them a fascinating subject for research in combinatorial analysis. This 1995 book on the subject by two of its leading researchers will be an important resource for students and professionals in combinatorics, computational geometry and related fields.

Several geometric problems can be formulated in terms of the arrangement of a collection of curves in a plane, which has made this one of the most widely studied topics in computational geometry. This book, first published in 1991, presents a study of various problems related to arrangements of lines, segments, or curves in the plane. The first problem is a proof of almost tight bounds on the length of (n,s)-Davenport-Schinzel sequences, a technique for obtaining optimal bounds for numerous algorithmic problems. Then the intersection problem is treated. The final problem is improving the efficiency of partitioning algorithms, particularly those used to construct spanning trees with low stabbing numbers, a very versatile tool in solving geometric problems. A number of applications are also discussed. Researchers in computational and combinatorial geometry should find much to interest them in this book.