[1] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

computability theory
     
         the area of theoretical computer science
        concerning what problems can be solved by any computer.
     
        a function is computable if an algorithm can be implemented
        which will give the correct output for any valid input.
     
        since computer programs are countable but real numbers are
        not, it follows that there must exist real numbers that
        cannot be calculated by any program.  unfortunately, by
        definition, there isn't an easy way of describing any of them
     
        in fact, there are many tasks not just calculating real
        numbers that computers cannot perform.  the most well-known
        is the halting problem, the busy beaver problem is less
        famous but just as fascinating.
     
        "computability", n.j. cutland. a well written
        undergraduate-level introduction to the subject.
     
        "the turing omnibus", a.k. dewdeney.
     
        1995-01-13
     
     
see also:
algorithm countable real numbers halting problem busy beaver 

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Kinetic Theory, definition of term: Kinetic Theory
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Wave Theory, definition of term: Wave Theory
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Glacier Theory, definition of term: Glacier Theory
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