Which class of problems can be solved using polynomial time algorithms?

The class of problems that can be solved using polynomial time algorithms is indeed P. This class encompasses decision problems for which there exists an algorithm that can solve any instance of the problem in polynomial time with respect to the size of the input. In simpler terms, if you can find an efficient algorithm that runs in time proportional to a polynomial function of the input size, then the problem belongs to class P.

Polynomial time is critical in algorithm analysis because it indicates that the time required to solve the problem grows at a manageable rate as the input size increases. Problems in class P are considered "easy" or tractable since they can be solved in a reasonable amount of time even for large inputs.

In contrast, NP refers to decision problems for which a proposed solution can be verified in polynomial time, and this class includes many problems that are as yet unsolved regarding whether they can be solved in polynomial time. NP-Hard includes problems as hard as the hardest problems in NP but does not necessarily have solutions that can be verified in polynomial time. Finally, Exponential generally pertains to algorithms that require exponential time to compute their results, making them inefficient for large inputs.

Thus, P is the most precise answer as it directly relates to problems that can be solved efficiently within