Conjecture · version 2

NP ≠ coNP

Statement

NP and coNP are distinct.

Assumptions

  • Classical NP and complements of NP languages.

Scope

A stronger related separation; not equivalent to P ≠ NP.

Evidence

Connections

In this problem · publication v12 · Selected context

P versus NP →

Different statement · related variant · Open

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

One-way implication

Separating NP from coNP would also separate P from NP.

The converse is not established; short proofs in one particular proof system are a narrower question.

Details & sources
NP ≠ coNP →

Open · version 2

NP and coNP are distinct.

  • Classical NP and complements of NP languages.

Scope: A stronger related separation; not equivalent to P ≠ NP.

P ≠ NP →

Open · version 3

There exists a language in NP that is not decidable by any deterministic polynomial-time algorithm.

  • Finite binary inputs; uniform classical computation; polynomial time in bit length.

Scope: The conjectural negative answer to the same canonical question.

NP versus coNP would separate P and NP →

Relationship statement · Proved · version 2

If NP ≠ coNP, then P ≠ NP.

  • P is closed under complementation.

Scope: The implication does not establish its premise.

Relationship not independently reviewed.

Connection in P versus NP →

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

In this problem · publication v14

P versus NP →

Different statement · related variant · Open

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

One-way implication

Separating NP from coNP would also separate P from NP.

The converse is not established; short proofs in one particular proof system are a narrower question.

Details & sources
NP ≠ coNP →

Open · version 2

NP and coNP are distinct.

  • Classical NP and complements of NP languages.

Scope: A stronger related separation; not equivalent to P ≠ NP.

P ≠ NP →

Open · version 3

There exists a language in NP that is not decidable by any deterministic polynomial-time algorithm.

  • Finite binary inputs; uniform classical computation; polynomial time in bit length.

Scope: The conjectural negative answer to the same canonical question.

NP versus coNP would separate P and NP →

Relationship statement · Proved · version 2

If NP ≠ coNP, then P ≠ NP.

  • P is closed under complementation.

Scope: The implication does not establish its premise.

Relationship not independently reviewed.

Connection in P versus NP →

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.

Avi Wigderson · Mathematics and Computation →

Avi Wigderson · Published · Publication date 2019

Published author exposition or original paper.

Revision & attribution

Source revision: author-draft-2019-08-06. Observed Oct 10, 2026.

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

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-conp
Statement version
2
SHA-256
9bf8f01b67b55cbf7d4381c5341b8e4799240ba8dd38dd2195900e3e10888e2e

Publication records