What is the NP problem?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the NP problem, which refers to a class of problems in computational theory known as 'nondeterministic polynomial time'. This concept is significant in the field of computer science and mathematics, particularly in relation to algorithm efficiency and complexity theory.
Answer
A decision problem verifiable in polynomial time.
An NP problem is a decision problem for which any proposed solution can be verified in polynomial time by a deterministic Turing machine.
Answer for screen readers
An NP problem is a decision problem for which any proposed solution can be verified in polynomial time by a deterministic Turing machine.
More Information
NP stands for 'nondeterministic polynomial time'. If a problem is in NP, it means that while finding a solution may be difficult, once a potential solution is guessed, it can be checked quickly (in polynomial time).
Tips
A common mistake is confusing NP with problems that can be solved (rather than verified) in polynomial time; solving and verifying are two different aspects in computational complexity.
Sources
- NP (complexity) - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- NP-Problem -- from Wolfram MathWorld - mathworld.wolfram.com
- What is the definition of P, NP, NP-complete and NP-hard? - Stack Exchange - cs.stackexchange.com
