Fundamentals of the Analysis

of Algorithm Efficiency
 Analysis of Algorithms
 Analysis of algorithms means to
investigate an algorithm’s efficiency with
respect to resources: running time and
memory space.
Time efficiency: how fast an algorithm runs.
Space efficiency: the space an algorithm requires.

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 Analysis Framework
 Measuring an input’s size
 Measuring running time
 Orders of growth (of the algorithm’s
efficiency function)
 Worst-base, best-case and average
efficiency

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 Measuring Input Sizes
 Efficiency is define as a function of input
size.
 Input size depends on the problem.
 Example 1, what is the input size of the problem of
sorting n numbers?
 Example 2, what is the input size of adding two n by n
matrices?

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 Units for Measuring Running Time
 Measure the running time using standard unit of time
measurements, such as seconds, minutes?
 Depends on the speed of the computer.
 count the number of times each of an algorithm’s
operations is executed.
 Difficult and unnecessary
 count the number of times an algorithm’s basic operation
is executed.
 Basic operation: the most important operation of the algorithm,
the operation contributing the most to the total running time.
 For example, the basic operation is usually the most time-
consuming operation in the algorithm’s innermost loop.

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 Theoretical Analysis of Time Efficiency
 Time efficiency is analyzed by determining the number of
repetitions of the basic operation as a function of input
size. Assuming C(n) = (1/2)n(n-1),
how much longer will the algorithm run if we double the input size?

input size The efficiency analysis

framework ignores the
multiplicative constants
T(n) ≈ copC (n) of C(n) and focuses on
the orders of growth of
the C(n).
running time execution time Number of times the
for the basic operation basic operation is
executed
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 Why do we care about the order of growth of an
algorithm’s efficiency function, i.e., the total number
of basic operations?
 Examples
GCD( 60, 24):
Euclid’s algorithm?
Consecutive Integer Counting?
GCD( 31415, 14142):
Euclid’s algorithm?
Consecutive Integer Counting?
We care about how fast the efficiency function grows as n gets greater.
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 Orders of Growth Exponential-growth functions

Orders of growth:
• consider only the leading term of a formula
• ignore the constant coefficient.
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700

600

500

n*n*n
400 n*n
n log(n)
300 n
log(n)

200

100

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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 Worst-Case, Best-Case, and Average-
Case Efficiency
 Algorithm efficiency depends on the input size n
 For some algorithms efficiency depends on type
of input.
 Example: Sequential Search
 Problem: Given a list of n elements and a search key K, find
an element equal to K, if any.
 Algorithm: Scan the list and compare its successive
elements with K until either a matching element is found
(successful search) of the list is exhausted (unsuccessful
search)
Given a sequential search problem of an input size of n,
what kind of input would make the running time the longest?
How many key comparisons? 11
 Sequential Search Algorithm
 ALGORITHM SequentialSearch(A[0..n-1], K)
//Searches for a given value in a given array by sequential search
//Input: An array A[0..n-1] and a search key K
//Output: Returns the index of the first element of A that matches K
or –1 if there are no matching elements
i 0
while i < n and A[i] ‡ K do
ii+1
if i < n //A[I] = K
return i
else
return -1

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 Worst-Case, Best-Case, and
Average-Case Efficiency
 Worst case Efficiency
 Efficiency (# of times the basic operation will be executed) for the
worst case input of size n.
 The algorithm runs the longest among all possible inputs of size n.
 Best case
 Efficiency (# of times the basic operation will be executed) for the
best case input of size n.
 The algorithm runs the fastest among all possible inputs of size n.
 Average case:

Efficiency (#of times the basic operation will be executed) for a
typical/random input of size n.
 NOT the average of worst and best case
 How to find the average case efficiency? 13
 Summary of the Analysis Framework
 Both time and space efficiencies are measured as functions of input
size.
 Time efficiency is measured by counting the number of basic
operations executed in the algorithm. The space efficiency is
measured by the number of extra memory units consumed.
 The framework’s primary interest lies in the order of growth of the
algorithm’s running time (space) as its input size goes infinity.
 The efficiencies of some algorithms may differ significantly for
inputs of the same size. For these algorithms, we need to
distinguish between the worst-case, best-case and average case
efficiencies.

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 Asymptotic Growth Rate
 Three notations used to compare orders of growth
of an algorithm’s basic operation count
 O(g(n)): class of functions f(n) that grow no faster than
g( n)
 Ω(g(n)): class of functions f(n) that grow at least as fast
as g(n)
 Θ (g(n)): class of functions f(n) that grow at same rate as
g( n)

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O-notation

back

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 O-notation
 Formal definition
 A function t(n) is said to be in O(g(n)), denoted t(n) O(g(n)), if
t(n) is bounded above by some constant multiple of g(n) for all
large n, i.e., if there exist some positive constant c and some
nonnegative integer n0 such that
t(n)  cg(n) for all n  n0

 Exercises: prove the following using the above definition

 10n2  O(n2)
 10n2 + 2n  O(n2)
 100n + 5  O(n2)
 5n+20  O(n)

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-notation

back

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 -notation
 Formal definition
 A function t(n) is said to be in (g(n)), denoted t(n) 
(g(n)), if t(n) is bounded below by some constant multiple
of g(n) for all large n, i.e., if there exist some positive
constant c and some nonnegative integer n0 such that
t(n)  cg(n) for all n  n0

 Exercises: prove the following using the above definition

 10n2  (n2)
 10n2 + 2n  (n2)
 10n3  (n2)

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-notation

back

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-notation
 Formal definition
 A function t(n) is said to be in (g(n)), denoted t(n) 
(g(n)), if t(n) is bounded both above and below by some
positive constant multiples of g(n) for all large n, i.e., if there
exist some positive constant c1 and c2 and some nonnegative
integer n0 such that
c2 g(n)  t(n)  c1 g(n) for all n  n0

 Exercises: prove the following using the above definition

 10n2  (n2)
 10n2 + 2n  (n2)
 (1/2)n(n-1)  (n2)

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 >=
(g(n)), functions that grow at least as fast as g(n)

=
(g(n)), functions that grow at the same rate as g(n)
g(n)

<=
O(g(n)), functions that grow no faster than g(n)

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 Theorem
 If t1(n)  O(g1(n)) and t2(n)  O(g2(n)), then
t1(n) + t2(n)  O(max{g1(n), g2(n)}).
 The analogous assertions are true for the -notation
and -notation.

 Implication: The algorithm’s overall efficiency will

be determined by the part with a larger order of
growth, I.e., its least efficient part.
 For example,
 5n2 + 3nlogn  O(n2)

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 Using Limits for Comparing Orders of
Growth

0 order of growth of T(n) < order of growth of g(n)

c>0 order of growth of T(n) = order of growth of g(n)

limn→∞ T(n)/g(n) =
∞ order of growth of T(n) > order of growth of g(n)

Examples:
• 10n vs. 2n2

• n(n+1)/2 vs. n2

• logb n vs. logc n

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L’Hôpital’s rule
If
 limn→∞ f(n) = limn→∞ g(n) = ∞

 The derivatives f ´, g ´ exist,

Then
lim f(n) lim f ´(n)
n→∞ g(n) = n→∞ g ´(n)

• Example: log2n vs. n

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Summary of How to Establish Orders of Growth
of an Algorithm’s Basic Operation Count

 Method 1: Using limits.

 L’Hôpital’s rule
 Method 2: Using the theorem.
 Method 3: Using the definitions of O-,
-, and -notation.

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 The time
efficiencies of a
large number

Basic Efficiency classes of algorithms

fall into only a
few classes.
fast High time efficiency
1 constant
log n logarithmic
n linear
n log n n log n
n2 quadratic
n3 cubic
2n exponential
slow n! factorial low time efficiency
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Homework 1

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Time Efficiency of Nonrecursive Algorithms

 Example: Finding the largest element in a given array

Algorithm MaxElement (A[0..n-1])
//Determines the value of the largest element in a given array
//Input: An array A[0..n-1] of real numbers
//Output: The value of the largest element in A
maxval  A[0]
for i  1 to n-1 do
if A[i] > maxval
maxval  A[i]
return maxval

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Time Efficiency of Nonrecursive Algorithms

Steps in mathematical analysis of nonrecursive algorithms:

 Decide on parameter n indicating input size

 Identify algorithm’s basic operation

 Check whether the number of times the basic operation is executed depends
only on the input size n. If it also depends on the type of input, investigate
worst, average, and best case efficiency separately.

 Set up summation for C(n) reflecting the number of times the algorithm’s basic
operation is executed.

 Simplify summation using standard formulas (see Appendix A)

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Example: Element uniqueness problem

Algorithm UniqueElements (A[0..n-1])

//Checks whether all the elements in a given array are
distinct
//Input: An array A[0..n-1]
//Output: Returns true if all the elements in A are distinct
and false otherwise
for i  0 to n - 2 do
for j  i + 1 to n – 1 do
if A[i] = A[j] return false
return true

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Example: Matrix multiplication

Algorithm MatrixMultiplication(A[0..n-1, 0..n-1], B[0..n-1, 0..n-1] )

//Multiplies two square matrices of order n by the definition-based
algorithm
//Input: two n-by-n matrices A and B
//Output: Matrix C = AB
for i  0 to n - 1 do
for j  0 to n – 1 do M(n) ∈ Θ (n3)
C[i, j]  0.0
for k  0 to n – 1 do
C[i, j]  C[i, j] + A[i, k] * B[k, j]
return C

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Example: Find the number of binary digits
in the binary representation of a positive
decimal integer
Algorithm Binary(n)
//Input: A positive decimal integer n (stored in binary
form in the computer)
//Output: The number of binary digits in n’s binary
representation
count  0
while n >= 1 do //or while n > 0 do
count  count + 1
n  n/2
return count C(n) ∈ Θ ( log2n  +1)

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Example: Find the number of binary digits
in the binary representation of a positive
decimal integer
Algorithm Binary(n)
//Input: A positive decimal integer n (stored in binary
form in the computer)
//Output: The number of binary digits in n’s binary
representation
count  1
while n > 1 do
count  count + 1
n  n/2
return count

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Mathematical Analysis of
Recursive Algorithms
 Recursive evaluation of n!
 Recursive solution to the Towers of
Hanoi puzzle
 Recursive solution to the number of
binary digits problem

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 Example Recursive evaluation of n ! (1)
 Iterative Definition
F(n) = 1 if n = 0
n * (n-1) * (n-2)… 3 * 2 * 1 if n > 0
 Recursive definition
F(n) = 1 if n = 0
n * F(n-1) if n > 0

 Algorithm F(n)
if n=0
return 1 //base case
else
return F (n -1) * n //general
case 36
 Example Recursive evaluation of n ! (2)
 Two Recurrences
 The one for the factorial function value: F(n)
F(n) = F(n – 1) * n for every n >
0
 The F(0) = 1number of multiplications to compute n!,
one for
M(n)
M(n) = M(n – 1) + 1 for every n > 0
M(0) = 0

M(n) ∈ Θ (n)
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 Steps in Mathematical Analysis of
Recursive Algorithms
 Decide on parameter n indicating input size

 Identify algorithm’s basic operation

 Determine worst, average, and best case for input of size n

 Set up a recurrence relation and initial condition(s) for C(n)-the

number of times the basic operation will be executed for an
input of size n (alternatively count recursive calls).

 Solve the recurrence or estimate the order of magnitude of the

solution (see Appendix B)

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 The Towers of Hanoi Puzzle
 Recurrence Relations
 Denote the total number of moving as M(n)
M(n) = 2M(n – 1) + 1 for every n > 0
M(1) = 1 M(n) ∈ Θ (2n)
 Succinctness vs. efficiency
Be careful with recursive algorithms because
their succinctness mask their inefficiency.

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 Example: Find the number of binary digits
in the binary representation of a positive
decimal integer (A recursive solution)
Algorithm Binary(n)
//Input: A positive decimal integer n (stored in binary
form in the computer)
//Output: The number of binary digits in n’s binary
representation
if n = 1 //The binary representation of n contains only one bit.
return 1
else //The binary representation of n contains more than one bit.
return BinRec(n/2) + 1

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 Smoothness Rule
 Let f(n) be a nonnegative function defined on the set of natural
numbers. f(n) is call smooth if it is eventually nondecreasing and
f(2n) ∈ Θ (f(n))
 Functions that do not grow too fast, including logn, n, nlogn, and n
where >=0 are smooth.
 Smoothness rule
let T(n) be an eventually nondecreasing function and f(n) be a
smooth function. If
T(n) ∈ Θ (f(n)) for values of n that are powers of b,
where b>=2, then
T(n) ∈ Θ (f(n)) for any n.

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 Important Recurrence Types
 Decrease-by-one recurrences
 A decrease-by-one algorithm solves a problem by exploiting a
relationship between a given instance of size n and a smaller size n – 1.
 Example: n!
 The recurrence equation for investigating the time efficiency of such
algorithms typically has the form
T(n) = T(n-1) + f(n)
 Decrease-by-a-constant-factor recurrences
 A decrease-by-a-constant algorithm solves a problem by dividing its
given instance of size n into several smaller instances of size n/b,
solving each of them recursively, and then, if necessary, combining the
solutions to the smaller instances into a solution to the given instance.
 Example: binary search.
 The recurrence equation for investigating the time efficiency of such
algorithms typically has the form
T(n) = aT(n/b) + f (n)

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 Decrease-by-one Recurrences
 One (constant) operation reduces problem size by one.
T(n) = T(n-1) + c T(1) = d
Solution: T(n) = (n-1)c + d linear

 A pass through input reduces problem size by one.

T(n) = T(n-1) + c n T(1) = d
Solution: T(n) = [n(n+1)/2 – 1] c + d quadratic

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 Decrease-by-a-constant-factor
recurrences – The Master Theorem
T(n) = aT(n/b) + f (n), where f (n) ∈ Θ(nk) , k>=0

1. a < bk T(n) ∈ Θ(nk)

2. a = bk T(n) ∈ Θ(nk log n )
3. a > bk T(n) ∈ Θ(nlog b a)

4. Examples:
1. T(n) = T(n/2) + 1
Θ(logn)
2. T(n) = 2T(n/2) + n Θ(nlogn)
3. T(n) = 3 T(n/2) + n Θ(nlog23)

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Homework 2

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