Theorem · version 1

If P ≠ NP, NP-complete problems have no polynomial algorithm

Earlier version 1. View current version 2 →

Statement

If P ≠ NP, every NP-complete decision language is outside P.

Assumptions

  • Polynomial-time many-one NP-completeness; worst-case classical deterministic computation.

Scope

Rules out uniform polynomial-time algorithms, not efficient restricted-instance methods or heuristics.

Evidence

Connections

In this problem · publication v5 · Selected context

P versus NP →

Conditional implication · Proved

This statement contributes context in its stated scope; it does not settle the canonical P versus NP question.

This is one indexed assertion in its own scope. No disjoint solved fraction, strongest-known ranking or additional parent resolution is inferred.

Relationship not independently reviewed. This concerns its use in this problem.

In this problem · publication v7

P versus NP →

Conditional implication · Proved

This statement contributes context in its stated scope; it does not settle the canonical P versus NP question.

This is one indexed assertion in its own scope. No disjoint solved fraction, strongest-known ranking or additional parent resolution is inferred.

Relationship not independently reviewed. This concerns its use in this problem.

Sources

Stephen Cook · The P versus NP problem →

Stephen Cook · Published

Published author exposition or original paper.

Revision & attribution

Source revision: official-description-sha256-018f3d473d16. Observed Oct 10, 2026.

AI involvement is not reported by this cited source; this is not a claim of its absence.

Stephen Cook · The P versus NP problem — proof text: official-description-sha256-018f3d473d16. External source text. Its mathematical claims and independent OpenMath review are assessed separately.

History

Statement versions

Statement versions and problem publication versions are separate. A new publication can update context or sources while retaining the same statement.

Assessment history · 1

Assessments retained in these publication records. Earlier statement versions retain their own source histories.

Record details
Claim ID
claim-pnp-np-complete-hard
Statement version
1
SHA-256
6fa92f650d2f38b069251dbbf4dc706c1579c743190c80b56e7e54c49ef2fbb3

Publication records