Algorithms For Dummies

  Ten Algorithmic Problems Yet to Solve 

     399

IN THIS CHAPTER

 

» Performing text searches easily

 

» Detecting differences in individual 

words

 

» Considering the feasibility of 

hypercomputers

 

» Employing one-way functions, 

and more . . .

Ten Algorithmic 

Problems Yet to Solve

A

lgorithms have indeed been around for centuries, so you’d think that 

 scientists would have discovered and solved every algorithm by now. 

Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Solving a particular algorithm often 

presents a few more questions that the algorithm doesn’t solve and that didn’t 

seem apparent until someone did come up with the solution. In addition, changes 

in technologies and lifestyle often present new challenges that call for yet more 

algorithms. For example, the connected nature of society and the use of robots 

have both increased the need for new algorithms.

As presented in Chapter 1, algorithms are a series of steps used to solve a problem, 

and you shouldn’t confuse them with other entities, such as equations. An algo-

rithm is never a solution in search of a problem. No one would create a series of 

steps to solve a problem that doesn’t yet exist (or may never exist). In addition, 

many problems are interesting but have no pressing need for a solution. Conse-

quently, even though everyone knows about the problem and understands that 

someone might want a solution for it, no one is in a hurry to create the solution.

Chapter 

22

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  PART 6