Epsilon-Biased Sample Spaces

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In computer science ε-biased sample spaces, also known as ε-biased generators or ε-biased random variables or ε-biased sets, refer to small probability spaces that approximate larger spaces as defined below. Efficient constructions of ε-biased sample spaces have found many applications in computer science, some of which are - derandomization of algorithms, construction of error-correcting codes, and construction of PCP's.

[edit] Definition

Let X_{1}, X_{2}, \ldots, X_{n} be binary random variables and D be their joint probability distribution. The random variables X_{1}, X_{2}, \ldots, X_{n} are said to be ε-biased if for all subsets S \subseteq \{1,2,\ldots,n\} ,


\|Pr_{D}[\sum_{i \in S}X_{i} = 0] - Pr_{D}[\sum_{i \in S}X_{i} = 1]\| < \epsilon .

[edit] References