Theory of Computing ------------------- Title : Rank Bounds and Integrality Gaps for Cutting Planes Procedures Authors : Joshua Buresh-Oppenheim, Nicola Galesi, Shlomo Hoory, Avner Magen, and Toniann Pitassi Volume : 2 Number : 4 Pages : 65-90 URL : http://www.theoryofcomputing.org/articles/v002a004 Abstract -------- We present a new method for proving rank lower bounds for the cutting planes procedures of Gomory and Chvatal (GC) and Lovasz and Schrijver (LS), when viewed as proof systems for unsatisfiability. We apply this method to obtain the following new results: First, we prove near-optimal rank bounds for GC and LS proofs for several prominent unsatisfiable CNF examples, including random kCNF formulas and the Tseitin graph formulas. It follows from these lower bounds that a linear number of rounds of GC or LS procedures when applied to the standard MAXSAT linear relaxation does not reduce the integrality gap. Second, we give unsatisfiable examples that have constant rank GC and LS proofs but that require linear rank Resolution proofs. Third, we give examples where the GC rank is O(log n) but the LS rank is linear. Finally, we address the question of size versus rank; we show that, for both proof systems, rank does not accurately reflect proof size. Specifically, there are examples which have polynomial-size GC/LS proofs but require linear rank.