A fast algorithm for constructing trees from distance matrices (Q1116346)

We present an algorithm which, given a tree-realizable distance matrix, constructs the tree in optimal \(O(n^ 2)\) time. For trees of bounded degree k, the algorithm runs in O(k n \(log_ k n)\) time, and for random trees it apparently runs in O(n) average time. We show how the algorithm can be used to test tree-realizability of a distance matrix.