is there a limit to what we can compute with a computer?

Question

(undecidability in programming language)

Answer 1

I'm surprised with 7 answers that almost everyone thinks everything is possible. It is not. Bit size is not a limitation, using assembler I can perform math on 16,536 bit values if I so chose and had enough memory / hard drive space. The limitation to what a computer can solve is based on what a Turing machine can solve, because after all a computer is a giant Turing machine. The Halting Problem is a classic example of a problem that has a solution, that can be determined by humans, and yet no algorithm exists that can solve the general case. Problems in quantum physics also cannot easily and accurately be solved by computers (unless they are quantum machines...).

Answer 2

something which would be completed in a extra robust base might nicely be completed in binary Binary is rather elementary electrically yet i might desire to admit that i've got in many cases puzzled some base 3 workstation to be utilized in neural simulation the place you've got an excitation reaction (+a million), an inhibitory reaction (-a million) and an indifferent reaction (0). those, of direction, might nicely be - and are - dealt with numerically as beneficial and unfavourable weights in neural nets, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it in basic terms seems as though a three-state workstation might have an side. And, howdy, do no longer knock analog computing. Analog computers, nonetheless lacking in precision, produce their strategies at almost the cost of sunshine and are relatively stable at issues regarding differential equations, something that digital computers require a lot of time to unravel. At Penn State we had the better of the two worlds with a hybrid workstation, an analog workstation that became into related to a digital workstation. The digital workstation might desire to regulate the enter settings for the analog, study its outputs, make logic judgements, produce human friendly outputs, record outcomes, readjust the analog inputs and decide for yet another run. It became right into a very useful gadget. don't be attentive to if it relatively is nonetheless there or no longer.

Answer 3

There is no 'limit' to what can be computed; It may not be computed very fast, or a mass amount of data may not be computed at a time but if a program is written correctly, No theoretical limitation is present.

Answer 4

technically, no. A computer has alot of power. If you are talking about generalized power and ability, no. Hence how we can look into space, etc.

A personal computer obviously does not have as much power/ability as a super computer, so therefore yes it has a limit.

But computer in general do ALOT of work at one time.

Now if you start talking about specific abilities, it depends if that "code" or "language" for that ability has been created yet.

If the language has been created, then the computer can do it..

Unless you go pull out your old Tandy, HAHA!

Answer 5

If what you want to compute can be translated to mathematics then there is no limit as long as you have the time. But some things are not practical.

Answer 6

Yes. A computer is limited to the size of the numbers it computes. 64 bit architecture can compute larger numbers. Super computer s can do even larger numbers. After is is all said and done the what computers compute "Numbers"

Answer 7

Not really, only in speed. The more complicated the calculation, the longer it would take to do it.
All a CPU does is add, subtract, multiply and divide.

Answer 8

Yes, there are a lot of limits.
Hardware limit, operating system limit, etc.
And you can't use your computer while there are no electricity, yes?

Answer 9

Well, you certainly can't COMPUTE the future! (Although some "technical" stock traders think you can! LOLOL)

Answer 10

Maybe.