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Big O Notation Discrete Structures Presentation Updated

The document explains Big O notation, which is a mathematical representation of algorithm efficiency focusing on worst-case growth rates in relation to input size. It classifies common algorithm complexities and emphasizes the importance of Big O in evaluating performance, scalability, and optimal coding practices. Practical applications and case studies illustrate how Big O influences design choices in real-world systems, such as search engines and e-commerce platforms.

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isholaoluwatofunmi7
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3 views17 pages

Big O Notation Discrete Structures Presentation Updated

The document explains Big O notation, which is a mathematical representation of algorithm efficiency focusing on worst-case growth rates in relation to input size. It classifies common algorithm complexities and emphasizes the importance of Big O in evaluating performance, scalability, and optimal coding practices. Practical applications and case studies illustrate how Big O influences design choices in real-world systems, such as search engines and e-commerce platforms.

Uploaded by

isholaoluwatofunmi7
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding Big O Notation

Discrete Structures and Algorithm


Analysis
Learning Objectives

• Define Big O notation and its significance in


computer science
• Classify common algorithmic complexities
(e.g., O(1), O(n), O(log n))
• Analyze the efficiency of algorithms using Big
O
• Visualize growth rates with practical examples
What is Big O Notation?

• Mathematical notation to describe algorithm


efficiency
• Represents worst-case growth rate of time or
space
• Focuses on how performance scales with
input size (n)
Why Use Big O?

• Compares efficiency of algorithms regardless


of hardware
• Helps identify bottlenecks and scalability
issues
• Essential for writing optimal and robust code
Common Big O Classes

• O(1): Constant time – e.g., accessing an array


element
• O(log n): Logarithmic – e.g., binary search
• O(n): Linear – e.g., traversing a list
• O(n log n): Linearithmic – e.g., merge sort
• O(n^2): Quadratic – e.g., nested loops
• O(2^n): Exponential – e.g., brute force for TSP
Visualizing Growth Rates
• Use graphs to compare how different
functions grow as input size increases.
• [Insert graph: O(1), O(log n), O(n), O(n log n),
O(n^2), O(2^n)]
Example: Linear vs. Quadratic Search

• Linear Search: Check each element – O(n)


• Nested Loop Search (e.g., duplicates): O(n^2)
• Better to sort first and then search – O(n log n)
+ O(log n)
Summary and Application

• Big O helps evaluate algorithm efficiency


• Focuses on growth, not exact time
• Essential for choosing optimal approaches in
real-world systems
Practical Applications of Big O
Notation
Case Studies in Algorithm Efficiency
Learning Objectives

• Review real-world uses of Big O in software


systems
• Analyze case studies where efficiency matters
• Understand how Big O influences design
choices
• Apply Big O concepts to optimize practical
problems
Why Big O Matters Practically

• Impacts performance and scalability of


software
• Critical for high-load systems (e.g., search
engines, databases)
• Used in code reviews and system design
Case Study: Web Search Engine Indexing

• Problem: Index billions of web pages


efficiently
• Naive scan → O(n); Indexing trees & hashing
→ O(log n) or O(1)
• Search engines use complex algorithms with
optimal Big O for response speed
Case Study: E-Commerce Search &
Recommendations

• Problem: Match user queries to thousands of


products in milliseconds
• Use hash maps for fast lookup (O(1)) and
precomputed filters
• Sorting & filtering algorithms chosen based on
time complexity
Case Study: Route Planning Systems

• Problem: Calculate fastest route among


thousands of roads
• Naive solution O(n^2); A* Search → O(b^d)
with heuristics
• Algorithms optimized with complexity
considerations for speed and accuracy
Summary & Takeaways

• Big O guides performance-focused decisions in


tech systems
• Case studies show trade-offs between
accuracy, speed, memory
• Important in architecture design, optimization,
and scaling solutions
Diagram: Big O in Case Study Applications
Exercises: Applying Big O in Practice

• 1. For a search engine system, what is the Big O for


checking every word on a webpage?
• 2. In an e-commerce app, explain the advantage of using
hash maps for product lookup.
• 3. For a delivery route planning tool, compare Dijkstra’s and
A* search in terms of efficiency.
• 4. Describe a situation where using an O(n log n) sorting
algorithm improves performance over O(n^2) sorting.
• 5. Suggest how indexing might reduce complexity in a
document retrieval system.

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