P (complexity) - Definition

Definition

A language L is in P if and only if there exists a deterministic Turing machine M, such that

  • M runs for polynomial time on all inputs
  • For all x in L, M outputs 1
  • For all x not in L, M outputs 0

P can also be viewed as a uniform family of boolean circuits. A language L is in P if and only if there exists a polynomial-time uniform family of boolean circuits, such that

  • For all, takes n bits as input and outputs 1 bit
  • For all x in L,
  • For all x not in L,

The circuit definition can be weakened to use only a logspace uniform family without changing the complexity class.

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