Communications of the ACM
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How the “Frontier” Became the Slogan of Uncontrolled AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been billed as the next frontier of humanity: the newly available expanse whose exploration …
From Computational Complexity
Other fields of math don't prove barrier results- why do we?
Before FLT was solved did some people prove theorems like: FLT cannot be proven using techniques BLAH. This is important since all current proofs use BLAH. Ihere...
From Computational Complexity
why are regular expressions defined the way they are
BILL: The best way to prove closure properties of regular languages is to first prove the equiv of DFA's, NDFA's and Reg Expressions. Then, if you want to prove...
From Computational Complexity
Should we learn from the Masters or the Pupils (Sequel)
A while back I had a blog entry Should we learn from the Masters of the Pupils? The Masters may have more insights but he Pupils may have a better view aided by...
From Computational Complexity
The benefits of Recreational Mathematics
Why study Recreational Mathematics? Why do recreational Mathematics? 1) The line between recreational and serious mathematics is thin. Some of the problems in...
From Computational Complexity
Raymond Smullyan: Logician, Recreational math writer, Philosopher, passed away
Raymond Smullyan was born on May 25 1919 and passed away recently at the age of 97. He was a logician (PhD from Princeton under Alonzo Church in 1959) who didThe...
From Computational Complexity
The Hardness of Reals Hierarchy
In my last post (here) I defined the following hierarchy (which I am sure is not original- if someone has a source please leave a comment on it) Z_d[x] is theProblems...
From Computational Complexity
What was the first result in complexity theory?
Let Z_d[x] be the set of polynomials of degree d over the integers. Let ALG_d be the set of roots of polys in Z_d. One can easily show that ALG_1 is a proper...
From Computational Complexity
My Once-Every-Four-Years Presidential Quiz/How Should Quizzes Work in the e-Era?
Every four years I post a PRESIDENTIAL QUIZ which I must update based on new information since we have a new prez and veep. The questions are here:here. I...
From Computational Complexity
My REU program/REU's in general/Flyers? Why do some Transcripts...
I run an REU program (Research Experience for Undergraduates) and I would normally urge you to urge undergrads who would benefit to apply to it and present both...
From Computational Complexity
Guest Post about the first Women in Computational Topology (WinCompTop) Workshop
The first Women in Computational Topology WinCompTop workshop was held in August at the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) in Minneapolis, MN....
From Computational Complexity
Predictions for 2017
Lance's Complexity Year in Review, posted the last week of the year (lets hope that P vs NP is not resolved on Dec 31) is a tradition that goes back to 2002. Bill...
From Computational Complexity
The very first Ramseyian Theorem
Many years ago I noticed that in several books on Ramsey Theory mention that Hilbert proved the first Ramseyian theorem. The theorem is the Hilbert Cube...
From Computational Complexity
Guest post by Samir Khuller on Humans, Machines, and the Future of Work (a workshop)
Guest Post from Samir Khuller on Humans, Machines, and the Future of Work (A Workshop) On Dec 5th and 6th I attended, at Rice University, a workshop on Humans...
From Computational Complexity
A students unusual proof might be a better proof
I asked a student to show that between any two rationals is a rational. She did the following: if x < y are rational then take δ << y-x and rational and use...
From Computational Complexity
Guest post by Samir Khuller about Visiting the Simons theory Inst for Computing
Guest post by Samir Khuller on his visit to the Simons Inst. of Computing Visiting the Simons Institute for Theory of Computing A few days back I had the good...
From Computational Complexity
Should I tell HS students that if they do well I'll write them a letter OR do I want them to ...
I teach a 3-week intense course for HS students on cryptography during the summer. Some of the students are very good, interested, and working hard. I also give...
From Computational Complexity
Did you do research when you were an undergrad? Well.. it was a different time.
Dan is a high school student who has worked with me and is now an ugrad at College Park DAN: Bill, did you do research when you were in high school? BILL: No...
From Computational Complexity
And the winner is... Harambe
Tomorow is the Election for Prez of the USA! This post is non-partisan but, in the interest of full disclosure, I state my politics: I will be voting for Hillary...
From Computational Complexity
My chair wants me to post about.. Mohammad Haj wants me to post about.. I want to post about...
Maryland is looking to hire lecturers and my chai Samir wants me to post it on my blog. I think he overestimates the power of the blog, however, here is the link...
From Computational Complexity