This paper gives output-sensitive parallel algorithms whose performance dep
ends on the output size and are significantly more efficient tall previous
algorithms for problems with sufficiently small output size. Inputs are n x
n matrices over a fixed ground field. Let P(n) and M(n) be the PRAM proces
sor bounds for O(log n) time multiplication of two degree n polynomials, an
d n x n matrices, respectively. Let T(n) be the time bounds, using M(n) pro
cessors, for testing if an n x n matrix is nonsingular, and if so, computin
g its inverse. We compute the rank R of a matrix in randomized parallel tim
e O(log n + T (R) log R) using nP(n) + M(R) processors (P(n) + RP(R) proces
sors for constant displacement rank matrices, e.g., Toeplitz matrices). We
find a maximum linearly independent subset (MLIS) of an n-set of n-dimensio
nal vectors in time O(T(n)log n) using M(n) randomized processors and we al
so give output-sensitive algorithms for this problem. Applications include
output-sensitive algorithms for finding: (i) a size R maximum matching in a
n n-vertex graph using time O(T(R) log n) and nP(n)/T(R) + RM(R) processors
, and (ii) a maximum matching in an n-vertex bipartite graph, with vertex s
ubsets of sizes n(1) less than or equal to n(2), using time O(T(n(1)) log n
) and nP(n)/T(n(1)) + n(1) M(n(1)) processors. (C) 2001 Academic Press.