3 ms·
Indeed, computational complexity depends on the physical laws of the universe. Suppose your universe admitted a computer where, with finite power, in the first
by evanb 10y ago
Indeed, computational complexity depends on the physical laws of the universe. Suppose your universe admitted a computer where, with finite power, in the first second you could execute one instruction, and then you could run the next instruction in half a second, and the third in a quarter of a second... etc.
What is "reasonable" to compute in a short amount of time in this universe has changed dramatically! For example, I want to prove the Goldbach conjecture. No problem! Just use this crazy computer to check every case, which is possible because this computer executes an infinite number of steps in two seconds.
Unfortunately [word choice?], in our universe such a computer needs an infinite amount of energy and would collapse into a black hole long before you received your answer!