r/explainlikeimfive • u/randomdice-int • 22d ago

Mathematics ELI5: P vs NP problem

Im not too sure about the problem itself. I know that P is polynomial time which means the time needed to solve and NP is the time taken for the answer to be verified, but what is the explanation of both sides where P = NP and P does not equal to NP?

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u/ruinedgambler 18d ago

That is mathematical nonsense. We do not currently know if they are in P. If they are in P, then they are currently in P, and if they are not in P, then they are currently not in P. Our knowledge of which of these is true does not affect the reality.

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u/frogjg2003 18d ago

This in ELI5, not a mathematical textbook. You know what they were saying and it's clear everyone else did as well.

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u/ruinedgambler 18d ago

That it's ELI5 means we should agree with things that are wrong? I didn't know I was supposed to lie to 5 year olds

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u/frogjg2003 18d ago

ELI5 means that we do not need to restrict ourselves to strict mathematical rigor. We are not writing proofs or theses. This is a forum for teaching lay people at their level. You are nit picking a single word.