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Theorem

Cook-Levin Theorem

Logic and Foundations

The Boolean satisfiability problem is NP-complete, meaning every problem in NP can be reduced to it in polynomial time. Proved independently by Stephen Cook and Leonid Levin, it founded the theory of NP-completeness that organizes computational complexity theory.

Facts
Statement
The Cook-Levin theorem shows that the Boolean satisfiability problem (SAT) is NP-complete: it belongs to NP, and every problem in NP can be reduced to it in polynomial time by a deterministic Turing machine. 1
Proof Year
1971 1
Connections

In Branch

Proved By

Sources
1. Cook-Levin Theorem (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Introduction
    In computational complexity theory, the Cook-Levin theorem, also known as Cook's theorem, states that the Boolean satisfiability problem is NP-complete. That is, it is in NP, and any problem in NP can be reduced in polynomial time by a deterministic Turing machine to the Boolean satisfiability problem.
  • Contributions
    In 1971, Stephen Cook published his paper "The complexity of theorem proving procedures" in conference proceedings of the newly founded ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing.
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