Halting problem (nonfiction): Difference between revisions
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
<gallery mode="traditional"> | <gallery mode="traditional"> | ||
File:Mathematical function.svg|link=Mathematical function (nonfiction)|Law-abiding [[Mathematical function (nonfiction)|mathematical functions]] have nothing to fear from [[Crimes against mathematical constants]], say crime authorities. | |||
File:Companion of Asclepius Myrmidon.jpg|link=Asclepius Myrmidon|[[Asclepius Myrmidon]] finds Halting problem, forecasts multiple casualties from [[Pi disaster]]. | File:Companion of Asclepius Myrmidon.jpg|link=Asclepius Myrmidon|[[Asclepius Myrmidon]] finds Halting problem, forecasts multiple casualties from [[Pi disaster]]. | ||
File:Forbidden_Ratio_symbol.jpg|link=Forbidden Ratio|Supervillains [[Forbidden Ratio]] and [[Gnotilus]] form [[Crime team (nonfiction)|crime team]] to destroy the [[Golden ratio (nonfiction)|Golden ratio]]. | File:Forbidden_Ratio_symbol.jpg|link=Forbidden Ratio|Supervillains [[Forbidden Ratio]] and [[Gnotilus]] form [[Crime team (nonfiction)|crime team]] to destroy the [[Golden ratio (nonfiction)|Golden ratio]]. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 09:38, 21 June 2016
In computability theory, the halting problem is the problem of determining, from a description of an arbitrary computer program and an input, whether the program will finish running or continue to run forever. See Computation (nonfiction).
Alan Turing proved in 1936 that a general algorithm to solve the halting problem for all possible program-input pairs cannot exist.
A key part of the proof was a mathematical definition of a computer and program, which became known as a Turing machine; the halting problem is undecidable over Turing machines.
It is one of the first examples of a decision problem.
In the News
Law-abiding mathematical functions have nothing to fear from Crimes against mathematical constants, say crime authorities.
Asclepius Myrmidon finds Halting problem, forecasts multiple casualties from Pi disaster.
Supervillains Forbidden Ratio and Gnotilus form crime team to destroy the Golden ratio.
Fiction cross-reference
Nonfiction cross-reference
- Halting problem @ Wikipedia