Studying Balanced Allocations with Differential Equations
Michael Mitzenmacher · Combinatorics Probability Computing · 1999
Using differential equations, we examine the GREEDY algorithm studied by Azar, Broder, Karlin and Upfal for distributed load balancing [1]. This approach yields accurate estimates of the actual load distribution, provides insight into the exponential improvement GREEDY offers over simple random selection, and allows one to prove tight concentration theorems about the loads in a straightforward manner.