Research map / Learning theory and algorithms / Combinatorial and search optimization
Learning Simple Algorithms from Examples
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Measured effects reported in the paper
| What was changed | Where | Measured | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| add dynamic discount to Q-learning (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · Single Digit Multiplication | success rate: 0% -> 100% | Helped |
| add Watkins Q(lambda) on top of dynamic discount (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · Reverse (FF controller) | success rate: 0% -> 100% | Helped |
| add penalty term (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · Walk | success rate: 10% -> 90% | Helped |
| add penalty term (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · 2-row Addition | success rate: 60% -> 100% | Helped |
| add penalty term (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · 3-row Addition (extra curriculum) | success rate: 80% -> 80% | No clear effect |
| add penalty term (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · Reverse (FF controller) | success rate: 100% -> 90% | Hurt |
| increase controller size from 200 to 600 units (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · Copying | success rate: 90% -> 30% | Hurt |
| increase controller size from 200 to 600 units (ablation) | GRU Q-learning · 2-row Addition | success rate: 70% -> 10% | Hurt |
| use feed-forward controller instead of GRU (ablation) | Enhanced Q-learning · Reverse | success rate: 0% -> 100% | Helped |
| test on length 1000 instead of 100 | Enhanced Q-learning · Single Digit Multiplication | success rate: 100% -> 0% | Hurt |
| use continuous reward instead of 0/1 reward (ablation) | Q-learning · Walk (FF controller) | median training time (min): 11.1 -> 250.0 | Hurt |
| use continuous reward instead of 0/1 reward (ablation) | Q-learning · Reverse (FF controller) | median training time (min): 3.1 -> 59.7 | Hurt |
Closest papers by meaning
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- Sample Complexity of Algorithm Selection Using Neural Networks and Its Applications to Branch-and-Cut (NeurIPS 2024 · similarity 0.82)
- Algorithmic Capabilities of Random Transformers (NeurIPS 2024 · similarity 0.82)
- Understanding Addition in Transformers (ICLR 2024 · similarity 0.81)
- Towards Learning High-Precision Least Squares Algorithms with Sequence Models (ICLR 2025 · similarity 0.81)
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