Ask HN: Which open mathematical problems block immediate technical progress?

[Exo_Tartarus]

Are there any problems in math which, if solved, would immediately impact technology? Doesn't matter which type of technology.

[gamechangr]

I don't think it works that way. It's not math that's the problem, there are some brilliant mathematicians working as developers.

I think it's more like spotting an opportunity and having the technical skills to execute.

I mean, I guess if you count hacking HN ranking system = immediate impact Technology?

[marcus_chang]

> I don't think it works that way.

Sure it does. With new mathematical discoveries, there come direct and immediate consequences to the technologies built using previous assumptions - which will now either be validated or invalidated.

If, for example, prime factorization is proven to be not computationally difficult, invalidating the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_RSA_assumption, and somebody publishes a practical method, then most of the world's cryptography systems utilizing RSA would be hacked immediately.

[cevi]

Find better quantum error correcting codes, and quantum computers will show up that much faster.

[osipov]

Prove P != NP

[justadudeama]

Or more exciting, p = np