Entscheidungsproblem

In mathematics and computer science, the Entscheidungsproblem (German for 'decision problem'; pronounced [ɛntˈʃaɪ̯dʊŋspʁoˌbleːm]) is a challenge posed by David Hilbert and Wilhelm Ackermann in 1928.[1] It asks for an algorithm that considers an inputted statement and answers "yes" or "no" according to whether it is universally valid, i.e., valid in every structure. Such an algorithm was proven to be impossible by Alonzo Church and Alan Turing in 1936.

  1. ^ David Hilbert and Wilhelm Ackermann. Grundzüge der Theoretischen Logik. Springer, Berlin, Germany, 1928. English translation: David Hilbert and Wilhelm Ackermann. Principles of Mathematical Logic. AMS Chelsea Publishing, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, 1950