Skip to content
nonconvexcard

Covering numbers of the set of sparse unit vectors

ProofAdvanced⏱ 1 hourHigh-Dim Probabilitysparsitycovering numbercompressed sensing

Problem

Let Ss={x∈Rp:∥x∥2≤1, ∥x∥0≤s}\mathcal S_{s} = \{x\in\R^p : \|x\|_2\le1,\ \|x\|_0\le s\} be the set of ss-sparse vectors in the unit ball. Prove that

log⁡N(Ss,∥⋅∥2,ε)≤slog⁡eps+slog⁡3ε.\log N\big(\mathcal S_s, \|\cdot\|_2, \eps\big) \le s\log\frac{ep}{s} + s\log\frac3\eps .

Compare with log⁡N(Bp,∥⋅∥2,ε)≈plog⁡(3/ε)\log N(B^p,\|\cdot\|_2,\eps) \approx p\log(3/\eps) and explain the consequence for sample complexity.

Write a complete argument. Every inequality you use should be one you could state precisely.

Hints

Hints — 0 of 3 revealed

Solution

Opening this before you have a real attempt on paper is the fastest way to feel like you understand something you cannot reproduce.

Related problems

All problems
SolvedProblemFieldTypeDifficultyTime
The geometry of l1 versus l2 constraintsHigh-Dim StatisticsProofIntermediate30 min
The operator norm on a netHigh-Dim ProbabilityProofIntermediate30 min
The volumetric lower bound on covering numbersHigh-Dim ProbabilityProofIntermediate30 min
Gaussian width of the sphere and of the sparse setHigh-Dim ProbabilityProofAdvanced30 min
Union bound over supports for the restricted isometry propertyHigh-Dim StatisticsProofAdvanced1 hour