David_Gerard comments on Open thread, July 16-22, 2013 - Less Wrong

13 Post author: David_Gerard 15 July 2013 08:13PM

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Comment author: David_Gerard 18 July 2013 02:04:42PM 1 point [-]

Confuses analytical best solution (what P=NP would be) with numerical good-enough solution (what evolution approximates just well enough to get advantage).

Comment author: Thomas 18 July 2013 04:07:42PM -2 points [-]

evolution approximates just well enough to get advantage

Exactly! Approximate. ~=.

Comment author: David_Gerard 18 July 2013 06:22:18PM *  2 points [-]

Yes, but that doesn't constitute "solving" NP in P except in having to work out a different approximation method in every instance of an NP problem.