NIST

intractable

(definition)

Definition: A problem for which no algorithm can exist which computes all instances of it in polynomial time.

See also tractable, undecidable problem, unsolvable problem.

Author: PEB


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Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Fri Mar 25 16:20:34 2011.

Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "intractable", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed., U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/intractable.html

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