Difference between revisions of "Branching factor"
Karl Jones (Talk | contribs) (Created page with "In computing, tree data structures, and game theory, the '''branching factor''' is the number of children at each node, the outdegree. If th...") |
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| − | In [[computing]], [[Tree (data structure)|tree data structures]], and [[game theory]], the '''branching factor''' is the number of children at each node, the outdegree. | + | In [[computing]], [[Tree (data structure)|tree data structures]], and [[game theory]], the '''branching factor''' is the number of children at each [[Node (computer science)|node]], the outdegree. |
If this value is not uniform, an average branching factor can be calculated. | If this value is not uniform, an average branching factor can be calculated. | ||
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== Higher branching factors == | == Higher branching factors == | ||
| − | Higher branching factors make algorithms that follow every branch at every node, such as exhaustive brute force searches, computationally more expensive due to the exponentially increasing number of nodes, leading to combinatorial explosion. | + | Higher branching factors make algorithms that follow every branch at every node, such as exhaustive brute force searches, computationally more expensive due to the exponentially increasing number of nodes, leading to [[combinatorial explosion]]. |
For example, if the branching factor is 10, then there will be 10 nodes one level down from the current position, 102 (or 100) nodes two levels down, 103 (or 1,000) nodes three levels down, and so on. The higher the branching factor, the faster this "explosion" occurs. The branching factor can be cut down by a [[pruning algorithm]]. | For example, if the branching factor is 10, then there will be 10 nodes one level down from the current position, 102 (or 100) nodes two levels down, 103 (or 1,000) nodes three levels down, and so on. The higher the branching factor, the faster this "explosion" occurs. The branching factor can be cut down by a [[pruning algorithm]]. | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[Combinatorial explosion]] | ||
* [[Computing]] | * [[Computing]] | ||
* [[Game theory]] | * [[Game theory]] | ||
| + | * [[Node (computer science) | ||
* [[Pruning algorithm]] | * [[Pruning algorithm]] | ||
* [[Tree (data structure)]] | * [[Tree (data structure)]] | ||
Revision as of 17:04, 7 February 2016
In computing, tree data structures, and game theory, the branching factor is the number of children at each node, the outdegree.
If this value is not uniform, an average branching factor can be calculated.
Example
For example, in chess, if a "node" is considered to be a legal position, the average branching factor has been said to be about 35.
This means that, on average, a player has about 35 legal moves at his disposal at each turn.
By comparison, the branching factor for the game Go is 250.
Higher branching factors
Higher branching factors make algorithms that follow every branch at every node, such as exhaustive brute force searches, computationally more expensive due to the exponentially increasing number of nodes, leading to combinatorial explosion.
For example, if the branching factor is 10, then there will be 10 nodes one level down from the current position, 102 (or 100) nodes two levels down, 103 (or 1,000) nodes three levels down, and so on. The higher the branching factor, the faster this "explosion" occurs. The branching factor can be cut down by a pruning algorithm.
See also
- Combinatorial explosion
- Computing
- Game theory
- [[Node (computer science)
- Pruning algorithm
- Tree (data structure)
