A

David

Darling

NP-hard problem

An NP-hard problem is a mathematical problem for which, even in theory, no shortcut or smart algorithm is possible that would lead to a simple or rapid solution. Instead, the only way to find an optimal solution is a computationally-intensive, exhaustive analysis in which all possible outcomes are tested. Examples of NP-hard problems include the traveling salesman problem and the popular game Tetris.