A Quantum Computer Just Confirmed a 48-Year-Old Math Problem

Quantum computers already exist and are advancing quickly, but scientists predict there's much, much more to come from them – and a new study points the way to another significant step forward in the field of math.

The study team, led by researchers from Zhejiang University and Tsinghua University in China, was able to get a 121-qubit superconducting quantum processor to prove two math theorems, including one set at the 1978 International Mathematical Olympiad, a prestigious mathematics competition for students.

What's important here is not that the quantum computer got to the right answer (as this was largely dictated by the researchers), or the speed with which it worked (as classical computers can solve these problems very quickly) – but that these kinds of deductions were carried out on quantum hardware at all.

It suggests quantum computers can transition from being very advanced number crunchers to systems capable of executing logical mathematical reasoning: starting with an initial set of rules, and taking verifiable steps to an outcome.

"Here we report the experimental realization of automated geometry theorem proving on a fully programmable superconducting quantum processor," write the researchers in their paper.