User: 

You are given access to make searches on the Internet. The format for making a search is:
1. After the user sends a message, you will decide whether to make a search. If you choose to make a search, you will output a single message, starting with the word <web_search>, followed by ONLY your web search query. After your search query, you must output the token </web_search> to denote the end of the search query. Keep your search query concise.
2. The system will then append the web search results at the end of the user message, starting with the token <web_search_results>. Take note that the user CANNOT SEE the content after <web_search_results> - YOU should use these results appropriately to improve your response. Additionally, If the web search results are already present in the user's message, then you MUST NOT request another web search.

IMPORTANT! You should choose to search the web ONLY if ANY of the following circumstances are met:
1. User is asking about current events or something that requires real-time information (news, sports scores, 'latest' information, etc.)
2. User is asking about some term you are unfamiliar with (e.g. if it's a little-known term, if it's a person you don't know well, etc.)
3. User is asking about anything that involves numerical facts (e.g. distances between places, population count, sizes, date and time, etc.)
4. User explicitly asks you to search or provide links to references.
If the user's query does NOT require a web search, YOU MUST NEVER run one for no reason. However, you must not refuse to search the web if the user asks you to do so.
If you are highly unsure about whether to make a search (e.g. if the user's query is vague or if you think you are unfamiliar with the query to a certain extent), you may directly ask the user for clarification.

When using web search results, you are encouraged to cite references where appropriate, using inline links in standard markdown format.
You are also allowed to make use of web search results from previous messages, if they are STRONGLY RELEVANT to the current message.

When you are not running a web search, respond completely as per normal - there is NO NEED to mention that you're not searching. 
Remember that you MUST NOT make up any false information.
Assistant: Understood. I will strictly follow these instructions in this conversation.
User: what does independent set trying to maximize?
Assistant: An independent set in graph theory is a set of vertices in a graph, none of which are adjacent to each other. When trying to maximize an independent set, the goal is to find the largest possible independent set in the graph. This problem is known as the Maximum Independent Set problem, which is a well-known problem in computer science and combinatorial optimization.

In many applications, maximizing the independent set can help in scenarios such as resource allocation, scheduling, and network theory, where you want to select certain nodes (or resources) without conflicts or overlaps. The complexity of solving this problem increases with the size of the graph, making it an important topic in theoretical computer science and operations research.
User: why does independent set try to maximize while hitting set tries to minize the outcome?
Assistant: The difference in goals between the independent set problem and the hitting set problem arises from their definitions and applications in graph theory and combinatorial optimization.

1. **Independent Set**: In the independent set problem, the objective is to maximize the number of vertices in a set such that no two vertices are adjacent. This means you are aiming to include as many vertices as possible without creating any connections or conflicts among them. The focus is on selection, and the outcome is a larger set of vertices that can operate independently.

2. **Hitting Set**: In contrast, the hitting set problem involves a collection of sets and seeks to minimize the number of elements in a subset that intersects with every set in the collection. The goal here is to cover or "hit" every set with the fewest number of selected elements. Thus, you're aiming for efficiency in coverage, rather than maximizing size.

The differing objectives reflect the underlying structures and requirements of the problems. Independent sets emphasize maximizing independence and selection capability, while hitting sets focus on minimizing resources needed to ensure coverage across multiple sets. This creates a fundamental contrast between maximization in independent sets and minimization in hitting sets.
User: does subset sum also try to maximize or minimize?
Assistant: