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Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

quantamagazine.org

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Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#11

Post by [deleted] »

war1025 wrote: post #4
growlist wrote: post #2

Whilst I'm thrilled that the monstrous partriachal injustice of the name of a mathematical problem including 'man' rather than 'person' has been annihilated, I'm also concerned about the extra co2 emissions generated by the data transfer associated with those three extra letters.

I was inclined to comment on the ridiculousness of insisting on using "salesperson" which is a real mouthful to say a hundred times over as is done in the article. But I figured that was just me being cranky and objectionable lately.

[deleted]

Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#12

Post by mmm_grayons »

happytoexplain wrote: post #9
war1025 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was inclined to comment on the ridiculousness of insisting on using "salesperson" which is a real mouthful to say a hundred times over as is done in the article. But I figured that was just me being cranky and objectionable lately.

From my point of view, having negative emotions about this at all seems "ridiculous", much more describing it as "a mouthful", and framing it as their having "insisted" on doing something, rather than simply having done it.

Well, the generally-accepted term has been "salesman" for over a hundred years. Whether or not you approve, it's definitely a conscious choice.

As an aside, can someone explain why a generic "-man" suffix is taken to indicate only the masculine by some people? It's no different than using the masculine for indefinite gender, so why the objections?

Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#14

Post by renewiltord »

happytoexplain wrote: post #10
growlist wrote: post #2

Whilst I'm thrilled that the monstrous partriachal injustice of the name of a mathematical problem including 'man' rather than 'person' has been annihilated, I'm also concerned about the extra co2 emissions generated by the data transfer associated with those three extra letters.

Why reframe something so harmless with such wild exaggeration and sarcasm?

I literally didn't even notice until these guys said it. Can't imagine how people care so much about trivialities like this.

Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#15

Post by blululu »

elygre wrote: post #3

How the heck did he do that during covid? Did he break all travel restrictions?

Lockdown -> O(1) traveling salesperson solution. I think constant runtime is technically not polynomial hard... But seriously this is very cool. Glad to see progress in mathematics.

Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#16

Post by belinder »

blululu wrote: post #15
elygre wrote: post #3

How the heck did he do that during covid? Did he break all travel restrictions?

Lockdown -> O(1) traveling salesperson solution. I think constant runtime is technically not polynomial hard... But seriously this is very cool. Glad to see progress in mathematics.

I'm glad too but it's difficult for me to imagine the improvement when it's

> 0.2 billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a percent

Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#17

Post by JoeAltmaier »

mmm_grayons wrote: post #12
happytoexplain wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my point of view, having negative emotions about this at all seems "ridiculous", much more describing it as "a mouthful", and framing it as their having "insisted" on doing something, rather than simply having done it.

Well, the generally-accepted term has been "salesman" for over a hundred years. Whether or not you approve, it's definitely a conscious choice. As an aside, can someone explain why a generic "-man" suffix is taken to indicate only the masculine by some people? It's no different than using the masculine for indefinite gender, so why the objections?

Well, because it says "man" and that means a male. Never mind its from the German where 'man' meant 'person'; today in English we are where we are.

And 'a hundred years' is not much of a defense. Women couldn't sign a mortgage in the US in the 70's. I imagine folks defended that too - "Its the way we've always done it."

Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#18

Post by ebg13 »

Tyr42 wrote: post #7

Oh man, it's actually a real improvement! I was afraid it was more pop sci, but not this is pretty cool. I think this is the paper? https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.01409

Heh. For some definitions of "real".

> they were only able to subtract 0.2 billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a percent.

Re: Computer Scientists Break Traveling Salesperson Record

#19

Post by vkowalski »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #17
mmm_grayons wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, the generally-accepted term has been "salesman" for over a hundred years. Whether or not you approve, it's definitely a conscious choice. As an aside, can someone explain why a generic "-man" suffix is taken to indicate only the masculine by some people? It's no different than using the masculine for indefinite gender, so why the objections?

Well, because it says "man" and that means a male. Never mind its from the German where 'man' meant 'person'; today in English we are where we are. And 'a hundred years' is not much of a defense. Women couldn't sign a mortgage in the US in the 70's. I imagine folks defended that too - "Its the way we've always done it."

Hupersons, personkind etc. This is not where we are in English.
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