PTAS (Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme)

A Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme (PTAS) is an algorithm used to find solutions to complex problems where finding the exact answer is too slow or difficult. It provides a way to get a solution that is very close to the best possible answer, and the time it takes to compute this solution grows polynomially with the size of the problem. This means that, although it may not find the exact answer, it can efficiently produce a result that is good enough for practical purposes, making it useful for optimizing problems in fields like logistics, scheduling, and resource allocation.