Asymptotic Notation and Recurrences

Asymptotic notation

Θ-notation

Θ(g(n)) = {f(n) : there exist positive constants c₁, c₂, and n₀ such that 0 ≤ c₁g(n) ≤ f(n) ≤ c₂g(n) for all n ≥ n₀}

O-notation

O(g(n)) = {f(n): there exist positive constants c and n₀ such that 0 ≤ f(n) ≤ cg(n) for all n ≥ n₀}.

Ω-notation

Ω(g(n)) = {f(n): there exist positive constants c and n₀ such that 0 ≤ cg(n) ≤ f(n) for all n ≥ n₀}.

Theorem 3.1

For any two functions f(n) and g(n), we have f(n) = Θ(g(n)) if and only if f(n) = O(g(n)) and f(n) = Ω(g(n)).

T (n) = 4T (n / 2) + n

How to know the T(n) = O(f(n)), what is f(n)?

We can guess it for experience.

set f(n) = c.n^3; (n^3 means power(n,3));

prove this:

T (n) = 4T (n / 2) + n
≤ 4c ( n / 2 ) 3 + n
= ( c / 2) n 3 + n
desired – residual
= cn3 − ((c / 2)n3 − n)
≤ cn3 desired

OK , T(n) = O(n^3);

But we can't guess for any one, we can use recurrences.

T(n) = T(n/4) + T(n/2) + n^2

think this case: