Quantum Computers

[LopenUupunut]

Do you suppose these geniuses could get my scanner to work on my new Windows 10 computer?

Troubleshooting scanners for Windows 10 is usually best done with a Minigun, and is not within the realm of traditional tech experts or computer engineers.

[18.99s]

Here is what I (in my not-so-numerically oriented mind) do not get:
If the quantum calculations would take thousands of years to process on "classical" computers, how do we know the result of the calculations are correct?

Verification of whether a particular answer is correct is often trivial compared to finding the correct answer in the first place.

If you're asked to find a number which is divisible by 3 and the sum of its digits is 87, you'll find it much harder to find that answer than if I tell you a specific number and you check if it meets that criteria.

[CookyMonzta]

Great! That's all SkyNet needs to perfect AI that will subjugate and destroy humanity!

Or Colossus... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloss...Forbin_Project

[Atticus]

Verification of whether a particular answer is correct is often trivial compared to finding the correct answer in the first place.

If you're asked to find a number which is divisible by 3 and the sum of its digits is 87, you'll find it much harder to find that answer than if I tell you a specific number and you check if it meets that criteria.

I get that, but if a computer takes pi out a million places, how would you verify those last 3 digits?

[lonewolf]

9,999,999,996
Used my abacus

[LopenUupunut]

Any positive integer with 87 as the sum of its digits will be divisible by 3.

[18.99s]

Any positive integer with 87 as the sum of its digits will be divisible by 3.

Yes. Basic number theory.

Maybe that example was too simple to demonstrate the point.

A better example would be "Solve this Rubik's cube" vs. "is this Rubik's cube solved or not?"

[tandfman]

Any positive integer with 87 as the sum of its digits will be divisible by 3.

I didn't know that.

I can't remember the last time I acquired a more useless bit of information.

[bambam1729]

I didn't know that.

I can't remember the last time I acquired a more useless bit of information.

Actually its pretty useful in a more general form. If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by 3, the number is divisible by 3

[KevinR]

I didn't know that.

I can't remember the last time I acquired a more useless bit of information.

Just stick around. I am sure this particular type of lightning will strike a second time.