Word Problem

The term word problem has several meanings:

  • word problem (mathematics education) is a type of textbook problem designed to help students apply abstract mathematical concepts to "real-world" situations
  • word problem (mathematics) is a decision problem for algebraic identities in mathematics and computer science
  • word problem for groups is the problem of recognizing the identity element in a finitely presented group
  • word problem (computability) is a decision problem concerning formal languages

Famous quotes containing the words word and/or problem:

    “A word does not frighten the man who, in acting, feels no fear.”
    —Sophocles (497–406/5 B.C.)

    “The problem is simply this: no one can feel like CEO of his or her life in the presence of the people who toilet trained her and spanked him when he was naughty. We may have become Masters of the Universe, accustomed to giving life and taking it away, casually ordering people into battle or out of their jobs . . . and yet we may still dirty our diapers at the sound of our mommy’s whimper or our daddy’s growl.”
    —Frank Pittman (20th century)