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But if it was a mathematical problem of the same level as the Riemann Hypothesis and Goldbach's Hypothesis, Ning Chen didn't have much confidence in solving them.

Ning Chen felt that mathematical problems of this level should wait until his mathematics subject level was raised to Level 4 before he could hope to solve them.

"Yes, it is indeed not easy to find a suitable research topic. Well, I'll give you a research direction, and you can try it when you go back and see if you can make some breakthroughs."

Ning Chen did not reject Qiu Chengtong's suggestion, because Ning Chen relied on the research directions given by Qiu Chengtong to solve two important topics in succession.

Maybe Qiu Chengtong no longer has the ability to solve these problems, but Qiu Chengtong can give Ning Chen the best advice, and can point out some routes to Ning Chen when Ning Chen is confused.

"Okay, Professor Qiu, please give me some advice."

"Just now my colleague has roughly told me what the main content of this meeting is. I am also very supportive of this direction. Of course, it will not have much impact on our normal work. The direction is of course important. What’s more important is that you, Teacher Ning, are scholars who have the ability to solve difficult problems..."

Although Qiu Chengtong did not go to the meeting, he still had a good understanding of the core purpose of the meeting, and quickly helped Ning Chen select some research directions that he could try.

"My personal suggestion is that Teacher Ning can try to solve the problem of P and NP first. This problem is also one of the Millennium Prize problems, but it is less difficult than the Riemann Hypothesis and Goldbach Hypothesis. And Quantum computer technology is developing so fast now that I feel now is the best time to solve this problem."

The so-called P and NP problem, simply put, is to verify such a problem:

If there is a solution to a problem that can be verified in polynomial time, is there also an algorithm that can find this solution in polynomial time?

Everyone has different opinions on whether P and NP are really equal, but whether it is proved that P and NP are equal or not, it is an important milestone in the history of mathematics.

After listening to Qiu Chengtong's suggestions, Ning Chen felt that this was indeed the most suitable direction for him at the moment.

"Professor Qiu, I am willing to accept your suggestion and attack the P and NP problem. Regardless of whether I can solve this problem in the end, I will do my best."

Seeing that Ning Chen accepted the direction he provided, Qiu Chengtong nodded happily.

"Teacher Ning, finally I would like to suggest that you use quantum computers and artificial intelligence rationally in your future research on this issue. Now that mathematics research has entered a new era, it is definitely not possible to directly use pen and paper. It can solve the problem, but we cannot rely too much on quantum computers and artificial intelligence, and can only use them as auxiliary tools."

"Don't worry, Professor Qiu, I have the same view as you in this regard. Quantum computers and artificial intelligence have always been auxiliary tools for me, helping me provide some ideas and inspiration. If I rely too much on them, the result will be It would be very scary."

Ning Chen and Qiu Cheng chatted together for several hours before they parted with some unfinished business.

After coming out of Qiu Chengtong's office, Ning Chen felt that he had gained a lot, and even the mathematics subject experience on the system panel had improved a few points.

Song Xiyun felt a sense of relief. On the one hand, it was not easy for Song Xiyun to understand what Qiu Chengtong and Ning Chen had just communicated. On the other hand, Song Xiyun and Qiu Chengtong were not very familiar with each other, so they still didn't like such an occasion.

But being able to accompany Ning Chen to participate in these things, Song Xiyun still feels very satisfied.

"Ning Chen, are you hungry now? If you're not in a hurry, let's go to Yanda for dinner?"

"Okay, it just so happens that I also miss the food in Yanda cafeteria."

Although Ning Chen is not a student of Yan University, he has spent some time in Yan University, and Yan University is half of Ning Chen's alma mater.

The two of them walked to Yanda. It was already past everyone's normal lunch time, but the cafeteria was not closed yet, so this would not delay the two of them from having lunch.

Ning Chen still prefers this kind of environment with fewer people, firstly because there is no need to queue, and secondly, it can also reduce the attention he may receive.

"Ning Chen, I said before that I would take you to eat all the delicious food near Yan University. Alas...it's a pity that I couldn't fulfill this promise."

"It's not your fault. The main reason is that my time at Yanda is limited, but these few months are still a very unforgettable period in my life. Looking back now, I really miss that time. After working, It’s rare to have such leisure time again.”

Walking with Song Xiyun on the Yanda campus, Ning Chen felt in a trance, as if he had returned to his innocent student days.

At this time, Song Xiyun said:

"Ning Chen, there are still some things I can't fully understand about what you and Professor Qiu Chengtong just discussed. Can you explain it to me again?"

"Of course. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask."

As he said that, Ning Chen asked Song Xiyun about some things that Song Xiyun didn't understand, and explained them patiently.

After Ning Chen's detailed explanation, Song Xiyun finally figured out these details.

"I see. After listening to what you said, I feel like I finally understand."

"This is also a very normal situation. The communication process between Professor Qiu Chengtong and I was so simple. If it were someone else, it would be normal even if they didn't understand anything."

"Then... Ning Chen, can I help you solve this problem together?"

Song Xiyun tentatively asked Ning Chen, her tone full of unconfidence.

Song Xiyun naturally hopes very much that she can help Ning Chen solve this complicated and unsolved mystery, but Song Xiyun also knows very well that with her current ability, she may not be able to help Ning Chen.

But Ning Chen did not express any intention of rejection, but smiled and said:

"Of course, even if you don't tell me, I plan to leave some work to you. You will be busy in the days to come."

Hearing Ning Chen's words, Song Xiyun was a little unexpected.

"So...you have already thought of some directions to solve the P and NP problems?" Song Xiyun asked.

Because if Ning Chen didn't think of the direction, it would be impossible to assign the problem to others.

"Yes, when I just communicated with Professor Qiu Chengtong, I thought of some possible directions. This method is called the divide and conquer method, which I think is the best way to solve the P and NP problems..."

Listening to Ning Chen's story, Song Xiyun also felt that Ning Chen's method could indeed be tried.

The so-called divide and conquer method, simply put, is to decompose a larger problem into multiple smaller sub-problems.

These subproblems are independent of each other and identical to the original problem. Therefore, as long as these sub-problems are solved recursively, the solutions to the sub-problems can be used to merge the solutions to the original problem.

"Song Xiyun, your task is to find the solution to a part of the sub-problem, and then let me verify it. These tasks are very important, and you are one of the few people I can trust."

Apart from Song Xiyun, Ning Chen really couldn't find many people he could cooperate with and trust in mathematics.

"Don't worry, I will successfully complete the work you assigned me."

…

After the meeting in Yanjing, Ning Chen and others returned to Shengzhou.

Sitting in his study room, Ning Chen frowned and started thinking.

This trip to Yanjing, whether it was Yue Jiafeng's meeting or the content of the exchange with Qiu Chengtong, made some changes to Ning Chen.

This strengthened Ning Chen's determination to continue research in mathematics, not only to complete the system's tasks, but also to fulfill the expectations of Yue Jiafeng and Qiu Chengtong.

More importantly, this is what Ning Chen hopes to achieve, and it is a decision Ning Chen made after careful consideration.

Mathematics and materials science have almost the same status in Ning Chen's heart, but Ning Chen still feels that before making a breakthrough in mathematics, it will be difficult for him to achieve a breakthrough in materials science.

Thinking about it this way, it is definitely more appropriate to give priority to mathematics.

Thinking of this, Ning Chen organized his thoughts, and then used Xiaozhi and Quantum Leap to conduct a detailed analysis of the entire problem.

Unconsciously, a few hours passed. Ning Chen felt that his brain had reached its limit and had to temporarily stop the work.

"After continuously strengthening my brain power index, I didn't expect that my energy is so strong now."

During this period of time, Ning Chen had been in a state of concentration, which also made Ning Chen consume much more energy than usual.

Before, after Ning Chen entered the state of concentration, he could only maintain it for one to two hours at most.

But this time, Ning Chen almost doubled the duration of this time.

But after consuming a lot of energy, Ning Chen had to stop and let his brain take a good rest.

The thinking and analysis just now gave Ning Chen a lot of new ideas and inspiration. Ning Chen also has more confidence in solving P and NP.

However, these things alone were far from being able to help Ning Chen determine specific research methods.

"No...if we follow this pace, I'm afraid if I give it another year, it will be difficult for me to sort out a complete idea, let alone completely solve the P and NP problems. I have to think of some other methods. .”

Although it is difficult to solve various scientific problems in a short time, Ning Chen still does not want to devote years or even decades to a problem that may not be solved. .

This is a difficult thing to accept for Ning Chen, a person who does not belong to this world.

In order to avoid such a situation from happening, Ning Chen's first thought was to use some functions of the system to help him solve this problem.

Ning Chen opened the system panel and looked at the various items and skills displayed in his system backpack.

"Now I still have a lot of remaining energy points. These energy points cannot improve my brain power index. Sooner or later they will be exchanged for other products. In addition, the number of times I can use various special abilities is also there. A certain amount of surplus..."

Thinking about whether to exchange energy points for some information related to the P and NP problem, Ning Chen noticed another item in the corner of his system backpack.

"I almost forgot, I still have 20,000 points of subject experience that I haven't used yet. Now, it's time to put these subject experiences to use."

The reason why Ning Chen had not been in a hurry to use his experience in these subjects before was because he had not yet determined which subject he would focus on in the future.

After experiencing this trip to Yanjing, Ning Chen has determined his future direction, and there is no need to keep 20,000 points of academic experience.

What's more, the 20,000 points of subject experience can only be used for subjects of Level 3 and above, which leaves Ning Chen with no better choice.

Even if this cannot immediately improve Ning Chen's mathematics subject level, the substantial increase in subject experience is enough to bring great benefits to Ning Chen.

Thinking of this, Ning Chen said silently in his mind:

"System, take the 20,000 points of subject experience that can only be used for subjects at level 3 and above and add them to mathematics!"

[Received the host’s subject experience point request, please confirm again from the host. Do you want to perform this operation? 】

It seems that because Ning Chen used too much subject experience this time, the system rarely allowed Ning Chen to make a confirmation operation.

Ning Chen did not hesitate and responded immediately:

"Confirm operation!"

[The operation of adding subject experience points has been completed for the host. Since the number of points added to this subject experience is relatively large, the host may need to spend a longer time to absorb the effect of this subject experience point added]

Ning Chen also felt a little incredible when he saw that his mathematical experience in the system interface had suddenly increased from more than 50,000 points to more than 70,000 points.

Ning Chen had to admit that this method of directly adding points was indeed much faster than learning by himself.

Although this method will reduce a lot of the sense of accomplishment gained in the learning and research process, when necessary, this is the fastest way to improve capabilities.

At this moment, Ning Chen only felt that a lot of knowledge was pouring into his brain, and there was no tendency to stop.

"If I remain highly focused, I will absorb knowledge faster..."

Recalling his previous experience, Ning Chen tried to keep himself focused, but Ning Chen quickly gave up on this state.