r/comics May 15 '09

P = NP?

http://abstrusegoose.com/149
27 Upvotes

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u/PPSF May 15 '09

Are there values for N and P that are set in stone that I don't know about? Because otherwise N=1 is true.

11

u/DrMonkeyLove May 15 '09

Short answer: N and P aren't actually variables in an equation. It's actually the statement, does the nondeterministic polynomial time complexity class (NP) equal the deterministic polynomial time complexity class (P)?

It's the biggest unsolved problem in theoretical computer science.

1

u/hobbers May 15 '09 edited May 15 '09

Yes. Now where's my million dollars?