Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?

Re:Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate ... by gamechangr on Tuesday November 28, 2017 @05:45PM (#15802613)

I don't think it works that way. It's not math that's the problem, there are some brilliant mathematicians working as developers.

I think it's more like spotting an opportunity and having the technical skills to execute.

I mean, I guess if you count hacking HN ranking system = immediate impact Technology?

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Re:Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate ... by marcus_chang on Wednesday November 29, 2017 @01:32AM (#15805054)

> I don't think it works that way.

Sure it does. With new mathematical discoveries, there come direct and immediate consequences to the technologies built using previous assumptions - which will now either be validated or invalidated.

If, for example, prime factorization is proven to be not computationally difficult, invalidating the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_RSA_assumption, and somebody publishes a practical method, then most of the world's cryptography systems utilizing RSA would be hacked immediately.

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