Computationally intractable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Computationally intractable" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of computer science and mathematics to describe problems that are too complex to be solved efficiently with current algorithms or computational resources. Example: "Many problems in cryptography are considered computationally intractable, making them secure against brute-force attacks."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

TechCrunch

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Asimov's laws are computationally intractable.

TechCrunch

That is, direct marginalization is computationally intractable.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Evaluating many possible combinations can computationally intractable.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Admittedly, Bayesian updating in the general case is computationally intractable.

SEP

For complex fire models, this approach may be computationally intractable.

Fire Safety Journal

Many optimization problems of practical interest are computationally intractable.

Discrete Applied Mathematics

Such formulations are computationally intractable, even for moderate sized networks.

Optical Switching and Networking

In Equation (20), it is computationally intractable to calculate U n 's simultaneously.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

However, in practical situations, the equations given in Theorem 2 are computationally intractable.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

However, the E-step is computationally intractable and approximation approaches are used instead [11, 12].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Therefore, solving the problem by an exact algorithm is time consuming and computationally intractable.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing algorithms or models, use "computationally intractable" to clearly indicate limitations in solving the problem efficiently, prompting exploration of approximation methods or alternative approaches.

Common error

Avoid using "computationally intractable" loosely. It denotes a specific class of problems (often NP-hard or NP-complete) for which no efficient algorithm is known. If a problem is merely difficult or time-consuming, consider terms like "computationally expensive" or "resource-intensive" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "computationally intractable" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying nouns like 'problem', 'task', or 'model'. It describes the inherent difficulty in solving a computational problem due to its complexity, as demonstrated in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

96%

TechCrunch

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "computationally intractable" is a common term in computer science and related fields, used to describe problems that are too complex to solve efficiently. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used in academic and scientific contexts. The phrase primarily functions as an adjective, and is found most often in Science-related publications. When faced with such problems, researchers often resort to approximation techniques or alternative methods. While the term accurately describes such difficult problems, avoid using it imprecisely. In situations where the problem may be complex or costly but still solvable, you may prefer alternatives such as "computationally expensive" or "resource-intensive". In conclusion, understanding and properly applying the phrase "computationally intractable" enhances clarity and precision in technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

computationally infeasible

Replaces "intractable" with "infeasible", suggesting impossibility due to computational constraints.

computationally prohibitive

Emphasizes the high cost or impracticality of solving the problem computationally.

unfeasible to compute

Similar to computationally infeasible, emphasizing the impracticality of computation.

algorithmically unsolvable

Focuses on the lack of an algorithm to solve the problem efficiently.

computationally expensive

Highlights the high computational resources required, making it impractical.

computationally burdensome

Suggests a high computational load, making the problem difficult to manage.

not amenable to computation

Suggests the problem's structure makes it difficult to apply computational methods.

beyond computational reach

Implies the problem is currently unsolvable with existing computational capabilities.

computationally challenging

Highlights the difficulty in solving the problem using computational resources.

practically unsolvable

Focuses on the impossibility of finding a solution within practical constraints.

FAQs

What does "computationally intractable" mean in simple terms?

It means a problem is too difficult for computers to solve efficiently. The time or resources needed grow so fast as the problem size increases that it becomes practically impossible to find a solution.

When should I use "computationally intractable" in my writing?

Use it when you want to describe a problem in computer science or mathematics that can't be solved efficiently with current algorithms. It's often associated with NP-hard or NP-complete problems.

What can I say instead of "computationally intractable"?

You can use alternatives like "computationally infeasible", "computationally prohibitive", or "algorithmically unsolvable" depending on the context.

How does "computationally intractable" differ from "computationally expensive"?

"Computationally expensive" means a task requires a lot of resources but is still solvable. "Computationally intractable" implies the problem is so complex that finding an exact solution is practically impossible, even with significant resources.