English

A proof of P!=NP

Logic 2026-02-13 v15 Computational Complexity

Abstract

We show that it is provable in PA that there is an arithmetically definable sequence {ϕn:nω}\{\phi_{n}:n \in \omega\} of Π20\Pi^{0}_{2}-sentences, such that - PRA+{ϕn:nω}\{\phi_{n}:n \in \omega\} is Π20\Pi^{0}_{2}-sound and Π10\Pi^{0}_{1}-complete - the length of ϕn\phi_{n} is bounded above by a polynomial function of nn with positive leading coefficient - PRA+ϕn+1\phi_{n+1} always proves 1-consistency of PRA+ϕn\phi_{n}. One has that the growth in logical strength is in some sense "as fast as possible", manifested in the fact that the total general recursive functions whose totality is asserted by the true Π20\Pi^{0}_{2}-sentences in the sequence are cofinal growth-rate-wise in the set of all total general recursive functions. We then develop an argument which makes use of a sequence of sentences constructed by an application of the diagonal lemma, which are generalisations in a broad sense of Hugh Woodin's "Tower of Hanoi" construction as outlined in his essay "Tower of Hanoi" in Chapter 18 of the anthology "Truth in Mathematics". The argument establishes the result that it is provable in PA that PNPP \neq NP. We indicate how to pull the argument all the way down into SEFA.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2005.10080,
  title  = {A proof of P!=NP},
  author = {Rupert McCallum},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.10080},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-23T15:41:18.917Z