2 ms·
> the basic rules of exponentials A space-faring civilization cannot expand faster than O(n^2) because physics.
by lisper 4y ago
> the basic rules of exponentials
A space-faring civilization cannot expand faster than O(n^2) because physics.
- AlanSE 4y agoYes, this is true but only from the reference frame of the cosmic background radiation. It is still possible that you can get O(n^3) from the reference frame of the aliens themselves, because time dilation makes travel fairly fast. You get into some spacetime philosophy about what metrics are worth evaluating O against in the first place.
- lisper 4y agoOK, but even O(n^3) is still polynomial, not exponential. That matters. There's a reason that P=?NP is a thing.