theoretical-computer-science / Boolean function complexity; sensitivity

Is block sensitivity at most quadratic in sensitivity? (Nisan-Szegedy)

Theorem 1.1: for every integer d≥1d\ge1 an explicit recursive construction gives a nonconstant total Boolean function with bs(f)/s(f)2≥2d/(4(d+2)2)\mathrm{bs}(f)/s(f)^2\ge2^d/(4(d+2)^2), so no bound bs≤Cs2\mathrm{bs}\le C s^2 holds; the abstract also claims a fixed α>2\alpha>2 with bs(f)≥s(f)α\mathrm{bs}(f)\ge s(f)^\alpha along an unbounded family. This does not close the gap to Huang's upper bound bs≤s4\mathrm{bs}\le s^4; the true exponent remains open. Because λ(f)≤s(f)\lambda(f)\le s(f), it also implies a negative answer to the spectral-sensitivity question bs=O(λ2)\mathrm{bs}=O(\lambda^2), which Meiburg had already disproved (see block-sensitivity-spectral-sensitivity-squared).

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theoretical-computer-scienceSep 25, 2026Significance 35/100Registry: lean checked

Is block sensitivity at most quadratic in sensitivity? (Nisan-Szegedy)

Prior state unknown→disproved

Theorem 1.1: for every integer d≥1d\ge1 an explicit recursive construction gives a nonconstant total Boolean function with bs(f)/s(f)2≥2d/(4(d+2)2)\mathrm{bs}(f)/s(f)^2\ge2^d/(4(d+2)^2), so no bound bs≤Cs2\mathrm{bs}\le C s^2 holds; the abstract also claims a fixed α>2\alpha>2 with bs(f)≥s(f)α\mathrm{bs}(f)\ge s(f)^\alpha along an unbounded family. This does not close the gap to Huang's upper bound bs≤s4\mathrm{bs}\le s^4; the true exponent remains open.…

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Theorem 1.1: for every integer d≥1d\ge1 an explicit recursive construction gives a nonconstant total Boolean function with bs(f)/s(f)2≥2d/(4(d+2)2)\mathrm{bs}(f)/s(f)^2\ge2^d/(4(d+2)^2), so no bound bs≤Cs2\mathrm{bs}\le C s^2 holds; the abstract also claims a fixed α>2\alpha>2 with bs(f)≥s(f)α\mathrm{bs}(f)\ge s(f)^\alpha along an unbounded family. This does not close the gap to Huang's upper bound bs≤s4\mathrm{bs}\le s^4; the true exponent remains open. Because λ(f)≤s(f)\lambda(f)\le s(f), it also implies a negative answer to the spectral-sensitivity question bs=O(λ2)\mathrm{bs}=O(\lambda^2), which Meiburg had already disproved (see block-sensitivity-spectral-sensitivity-squared).

Theorem 1.1: for every integer d≥1d\ge1 an explicit recursive construction gives a nonconstant total Boolean function with bs(f)/s(f)2≥2d/(4(d+2)2)\mathrm{bs}(f)/s(f)^2\ge2^d/(4(d+2)^2), so no bound bs≤Cs2\mathrm{bs}\le C s^2 holds; the abstract also claims a fixed α>2\alpha>2 with bs(f)≥s(f)α\mathrm{bs}(f)\ge s(f)^\alpha along an unbounded family. This does not close the gap to Huang's upper bound bs≤s4\mathrm{bs}\le s^4; the true exponent remains open. Because λ(f)≤s(f)\lambda(f)\le s(f), it also implies a negative answer to the spectral-sensitivity question bs=O(λ2)\mathrm{bs}=O(\lambda^2), which Meiburg had already disproved (see block-sensitivity-spectral-sensitivity-squared).

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Is block sensitivity at most quadratic in sensitivity? (Nisan-Szegedy) — Mathematical Frontier Network