Using known results regarding PCP,
we present simple proofs of the inapproximability
of vertex cover for hypergraphs.
Specifically, we show that

(1) Approximating the size of the minimum vertex cover
in $O(1)$-regular hypergraphs to within a factor of~1.99999 is NP-hard.
(2) Approximating the size ... more >>>

Following Feige, we consider the problem of
estimating the average degree of a graph.
Using ``neighbor queries'' as well as ``degree queries'',
we show that the average degree can be approximated
arbitrarily well in sublinear time, unless the graph is extremely sparse
(e.g., unless the graph has a sublinear ... more >>>

The notion of promise problems was introduced and initially studied
by Even, Selman and Yacobi
(Information and Control, Vol.~61, pages 159-173, 1984).
In this article we survey some of the applications that this
notion has found in the twenty years that elapsed.
These include the notion ... more >>>