P = NP is worth precisely $0 to the rest of the world. That's why a specific institute is offering the prize instead of universities and businesses.
It has no applications and no use for encryption breaking.
It is just a very simple question: can a computer find proof to solve complex problems quickly? Basically, are computers problem solving abilities limited? Yes or no.
Neither "yes" or "no" can break codes, they're just words.
A majority of computer scientists don't believe P = NP, and the majority of those who say they believe it say they're just being contrary.
Using high school maths term, can a computer find N? The simple rule that allows complex equations to be solved very simply.
If a computer can find N and thus dramatically decrease the time it takes to solve an equation it's good to know, but only tells us that it will be possible, one day, for computers to quickly crack encryptions. It isn't possible to use it to write any kind of program to do the actual cracking or defend against decryption attempts.
The $1 million prize is for answering the question; does P equal NP? Not for proving that it does. In science no-one cares if the answer is no, that's still an answer and another piece of information about the world.
There is no "P versus NP" problem in maths.
It's P = NP, and it's a computer science question.
P = NP is worth precisely $0 to the rest of the world.
It has no applications and no use for encryption breaking.
It is just a very simple question: can a computer find proof of solutions to use to solve complex problems. Basically, are computers problem solving abilities limited? Yes or no.
Neither "yes" or "no" can break codes, they're just words.
A majority of computer scientists don't believe P = NP, and the majority of those who say they believe it say they're just being contrary. So it's not that even of that much interest to most people in the field.
And the $1 million prize is for answering the question, not for proving anything, in science no-one cares if the answer is no, that's still an answer and another piece of information about the world.