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Arithmetic circuit complexity
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computational_complexity_theory/etHuVF3U">computational complexity theory</a>, <i>arithmetic circuits</i> are the standard model for computing <a href="/facts/Polynomials/Lzak8VVx">polynomials</a>. Informally, an arithmetic circuit takes as inputs either variables or numbers, and is allowed to either add or multiply two expressions it has already computed. Arithmetic circuits provide a formal way to understand the complexity of computing polynomials. The basic type of question in this line of research is "what is the most efficient way to compute a given polynomial f {\displaystyle f} ?" </p>