We develop a general framework for the analysis of algorithms of a broad Euclidean type. The average-case complexity of an algorithm is seen to be related to the analytic behaviour in the complex plane of the set of elementary transformations determined by the algorithm. The methods rely on properties of transfer operators suitably adapted from dynamical systems theory. As a consequence, we obtain precise average-case analyses of algorithms for evaluating the Jacobi symbol of computational number theory fame, thereby solving conjectures of Bach and Shallit. These methods also provide a unifying framework for the analysis of an entire class of gcd-like algorithms together with new results regarding the probable behaviour of their cost functions. 1

We obtain new results regarding the precise average bit-complexity of five algorithms of a broad Euclidean type. We develop a general framework for analysis of algorithms, where the averagecase complexity of an algorithm is seen to be related to the analytic behaviour in the complex plane of the set of elementary transformations determined by the algorithms. The methods rely on properties of transfer operators suitably adapted from dynamical systems theory and provide a unifying framework for the analysis of an entire class of gcd-like algorithms. Keywords: Average-case Analysis of algorithms, Bit-Complexity, Euclidean Algorithms, Dynamical Systems, Ruelle operators, Generating Functions, Dirichlet Series, Tauberian Theorems. 1 Introduction Motivations. Euclid's algorithm was analysed first in the worst case in 1733 by de Lagny, then in the average-case around 1969 independently by Heilbronn [12] and Dixon [6], and finally in distribution by Hensley [13] who proved in 1994 that the Eu...

We obtain new results regarding the precise average-- case analysis of the main quantities that intervene in algorithms of a broad Euclidean type. We develop a general framework for the analysis of such algorithms, where the average-case complexity of an algorithm is related to the analytic behaviour in the complex plane of the set of elementary transformations determined by the algorithms. The methods rely on properties of transfer operators suitably adapted from dynamical systems theory and provide a unifying framework for the analysis of the main parameters ---digits and continuants--- that intervene in an entire class of gcd-like algorithms. We operate a general transfer from the continuous case (Continued Fraction Algorithms) to the discrete case (Euclidean Algorithms), where Ergodic Theorems are replaced by Tauberian Theorems.

We study a class of Euclidean algorithms related to divisions where the remainder belongs to [α - 1, α], for some α 2 [0; 1]. The paper is devoted to the average-case analysis of these algorithms, in terms of number of steps or bit-complexity. This is a new instance of the so-called "dynamical analysis" method, where it is made a deep use of dynamical systems. Here, the dynamical systems of interest have an infinite of branches and they are not markovian, so that the general framework of dynamical analysis is more complex to adapt to this case.

. We develop a general framework for the analysis of algorithms of a broad Euclidean type. The average-case complexity of an algorithm is seen to be related to the analytic behaviour in the complex plane of the set of elementary transformations determined by the algorithms. The methods rely on properties of transfer operators suitably adapted from dynamical systems theory. As a consequence, we obtain precise average-case analyses of four algorithms for evaluating the Jacobi symbol of computational number theory fame, thereby solving conjectures of Bach and Shallit. These methods provide a unifying framework for the analysis of an entire class of gcd-like algorithms together with new results regarding the probable behaviour of their cost functions. 1 Introduction Euclid's algorithm, discovered as early as 300BC, was analysed first in the worst case in 1733 by de Lagny, then in the average-case around 1969 independently by Heilbronn [8] and Dixon [5], and finally in distribut...