Science: Folding the Perfect Corner

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When the computer program be comes available to commercial users, American Airlines will be far from the only customer waiting in line. Bell Labs' parent company, AT&T, will probably employ the algorithm to route millions of telephone calls through hundreds of thousands of cities and towns more efficiently and profitably. Exxon has expressed interest in Karmarkar's program to help improve its allocation of supplies of crude oil among various refineries. For many large companies, says Graham, finding the best solution, as opposed to one that is merely workable, "can mean the difference between a good balance sheet and a mediocre one."

— By Natalie Angier. Reported by Peter Stoler/New York