NIST

uncomputable function

(definition)

Definition: A function that cannot be computed by any algorithm --- equivalently, not by any Turing machine.

See also computable, unsolvable problem, intractable, busy beaver.

Note: From Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, page 24-19, Copyright © 1999 by CRC Press LLC. Appearing in the Dictionary of Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Copyright © 2000 CRC Press LLC.

Author: CRC-A


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If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul Black.

Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:40 2015.

Cite this as:
Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 1999, "uncomputable function", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/uncomputableFunction.html