Re:Is a Proof a Proof If No One Can Check It?
by timwiseman on Wednesday June 24, 2009 @11:20PM
(#673111)
You have some magnificent points.
At least to me, this is a nonissue. If the program can be proven to be correct (in the sense that the logic can be confirmed so that it will result in a correct answer), and the hardware can be shown to be able to properly execute the program, and the programs answer is proven.
Even the already tiny chance of a hardware error can be eliminated in all practicality by the combination of error checking within the program itself and repetition on independent hardware.
At least to me, this is a nonissue. If the program can be proven to be correct (in the sense that the logic can be confirmed so that it will result in a correct answer), and the hardware can be shown to be able to properly execute the program, and the programs answer is proven.
Even the already tiny chance of a hardware error can be eliminated in all practicality by the combination of error checking within the program itself and repetition on independent hardware.