Bart: A mathematical problem that defied solution for hundreds of year

Bart: A mathematical problem that defied solution for hundreds of years has finally yielded to a supercomputer. The process by which the supercomputer derived the result is so complex, however, that no one can fully comprehend it. Consequently, the result is unacceptable.

Anne: In scientific research if the results of a test can be replicated in other tests, the results are acceptable even though the way they were derived might not be fully understood. Therefore, if a mathematical result derived by a supercomputer can be reproduced by other supercomputers following the same procedure, it is acceptable.

Stimulus: Bart: The super computer unraveled the mathematical process by using a complex process which could not be comprehended. But as the process cannot be comprehended we cannot consider the experiment as viable

Anne: in scientific way if a result can be replicated by others without understanding the process. The experiment will still be considered viable.

IMO C: they disagree on the criteria for accepting the mathematical result.

The exchange between Bart and Anne most strongly supports the view that they disagree as to


(A) whether a scientific result that has not been replicated can properly be accepted

(B) whether the result that a supercomputer derives for a mathematical problem must be replicated on another supercomputer before it can be accepted

(C) the criterion to be used for accepting a mathematical result derived by a supercomputer

(D) the level of complexity of the process to which Bart refers in his statements

(E) the relative complexity of mathematical problems as compared to scientific problems