Why do we usually give the tightest Big O bound?
If an algorithm runs in O(n), then O(n²), O(n³), and even O(n!) are technically valid upper bounds too. So when someone asks for an algorithm's Big O complexity,…
time complexity
Why do we use the tightest Big O bound?
If an algorithm runs in O(n), then O(n²), O(n³), and even O(n!) are technically valid upper bounds too. So why do people expect the smallest or tightest bound…
How can I express the even and odd cases of this recurrence as one?
I'm new to data structures and algorithms and I'm analyzing the running time of this recursive power function. When n is even, the recursive call uses n/2, giving…
Why does my Python solution time out when N is 2000 and U is 100000?
I'm confused about why this solution exceeds the two-second limit. The grid size is at most N = 2000, and there can be up to U = 100000…
How Can I Avoid Time Limit Exceeded When Updating a Symmetric Grid?
I have an N×N grid containing '.' and '#'. Cells that are rotations or reflections of one another form groups of up to four positions, and I need…
Why Is My Python Solution Timing Out Despite O(N² + U) Complexity?
I'm confused about why this solution exceeds the two-second limit. The grid size N is at most 2000, and there can be up to 100,000 updates. I estimated…
How Can I Avoid Time Limit Exceeded When Updating Symmetric Grid Cells?
I have an N×N grid containing '.' and '#', along with U cell updates. Each cell belongs to a group of up to four positions related by horizontal…
How Can I Quickly Determine an Algorithm’s Time Complexity?
I have trouble understanding what an algorithm is doing just by reading its code, especially when trying to estimate its time complexity. Are there any reliable techniques or…
How Can I Quickly Figure Out an Algorithm’s Time Complexity?
I have trouble understanding what an algorithm is doing just by reading the code, especially when I need to estimate its time complexity. Are there any reliable shortcuts…
What's the Fastest Sorting Algorithm for 1000 Numbers?
I'm working on a project where I need to sort 1000 numbers, and I've been using counting sort. It seems to have a time complexity of around 10k,…
Can You Estimate an Algorithm's Run Time Based on Hardware and Complexity?
I'm curious if it's possible to predict the actual run time for an algorithm when considering specific hardware specs, the programming language used, and the algorithm's given complexity.…
Understanding Time Complexity for Integer Comparisons
I'm curious about the time complexity involved in comparing two integers, a and b. Why is it generally considered to be O(1)? Additionally, could we apply the same…
How Important Is It to Memorize Time Complexities for Data Structures?
I'm working on understanding data structures and their time complexities, but I'm torn between memorizing them and actually grasping how they function. I feel like memorization could help…