The Fastest and Shortest Algorithm for All Well-Defined Problems

Marcus Hutter

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arXiv · cs/0206022

The Fastest and Shortest Algorithm for All Well-Defined Problems

Marcus Hutter

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Abstract

An algorithm $M$ is described that solves any well-defined problem $p$ as quickly as the fastest algorithm computing a solution to $p$, save for a factor of 5 and low-order additive terms. $M$ optimally distributes resources between the execution of provably correct $p$-solving programs and an enumeration of all proofs, including relevant proofs of program correctness and of time bounds on program runtimes. $M$ avoids Blum's speed-up theorem by ignoring programs without correctness proof. $M$ has broader applicability and can be faster than Levin's universal search, the fastest method for inverting functions save for a large multiplicative constant. An extension of Kolmogorov complexity and two novel natural measures of function complexity are used to show that the most efficient program computing some function $f$ is also among the shortest programs provably computing $f$.

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Marcus Hutter. 2002-06-14. The Fastest and Shortest Algorithm for All Well-Defined Problems. https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/0206022

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