Let $A \in \mathbb{ Z}^{ m \times n}$ be an integral matrix and $a$, $b$, $c \in \mathbb{ Z}$ satisfy $a \geq b \geq c \geq 0$. The question is to recognize whether $A$ is $\{ a,b,c\}$-modular, i.e., whether the set of $n \times n$ subdeterminants of $A$ in absolute value is $\{ a,b,c\}$. We will succeed in solving this problem in polynomial time unless $A$ possesses a duplicative relation, that is, $A$ has nonzero $n \times n$ subdeterminants $k_1$ and $k_2$ satisfying $2 \cdot |k_1| = |k_2|$. This is an extension of the well-known recognition algorithm for totally unimodular matrices. As a consequence of our analysis, we present a polynomial time algorithm to solve integer programs in standard form over $\{ a,b,c\}$-modular constraint matrices for any constants $a$, $b$ and $c$.

Categories: math.OC cs.CC cs.DS

Notes on $\{a,b,c\}$-Modular Matrices