Math Is Fun Forum

LorraineBR

Member

Registered: 2009-05-13

Posts: 33

0(n)

hey i was just wondering if any1 could give me a formal definition of f(n) is O(n) and what a graph illustrating it mite look like, its a question on a sample exam paper nd theirs no soloution for it

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Theres only 10 type of people in the world
Those that understand binary
And those that dont

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: 0(n)

Hi Lorraine;

  If you mean Landau's BIg Oh notation then this is straight definition stuff. Best way to deal with this type of problem is research.
go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_O_notation
You will now be able to draw a graph of some f(n) and its O(n)

When you understand that and if this is for computer science then go here for a discussion on its weaknesses:
http://leepoint.net/notes-java/algorithms/big-oh/bigoh.html

If you get past this you are ready for the Physicists. They are having an interesting discussion on Big Oh notation and computation of factorials. Careful though, some of it is not correct.
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=280854

Then comeback and you can explain it to me.

Last edited by bobbym (2009-05-17 03:59:25)

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.