Doubt regarding the variable by which time complexity is measured
$begingroup$
In order to assert that a given algorithm for graphs runs in polynomial time, must the variable in the big-O function that represents the run time (denoted henceforth as $O(f(n))$) be the number of vertices? Or can one say that a graph algorithm runs in polynomial time if the variable $n$ is something else (like the number of edges in a graph).
Edit: Could an algorithm that is $O(N)$ (where $N$ is the number of trees in the graph) also be considered as being in $P$?
graph-theory asymptotics computational-complexity computability
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In order to assert that a given algorithm for graphs runs in polynomial time, must the variable in the big-O function that represents the run time (denoted henceforth as $O(f(n))$) be the number of vertices? Or can one say that a graph algorithm runs in polynomial time if the variable $n$ is something else (like the number of edges in a graph).
Edit: Could an algorithm that is $O(N)$ (where $N$ is the number of trees in the graph) also be considered as being in $P$?
graph-theory asymptotics computational-complexity computability
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
The variable could be either of them or a subset of them. It will depend on the case for which time complexity is being determined.
$endgroup$
– toric_actions
Dec 29 '18 at 12:29
1
$begingroup$
$Nodesleq 2Edges$ and $Edgesleq Nodes^2$ so a polynomial result for one implies a polynomial result for the other. (Assuming all nodes touch at least one edge)
$endgroup$
– Michael
Dec 29 '18 at 15:49
$begingroup$
If an algorithm is $O(N)$ (Where $N$) is the number of trees in a graph. then is that algorithm still in the complexity class $P$?
$endgroup$
– Aryaman Gupta
Dec 29 '18 at 17:34
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In order to assert that a given algorithm for graphs runs in polynomial time, must the variable in the big-O function that represents the run time (denoted henceforth as $O(f(n))$) be the number of vertices? Or can one say that a graph algorithm runs in polynomial time if the variable $n$ is something else (like the number of edges in a graph).
Edit: Could an algorithm that is $O(N)$ (where $N$ is the number of trees in the graph) also be considered as being in $P$?
graph-theory asymptotics computational-complexity computability
$endgroup$
In order to assert that a given algorithm for graphs runs in polynomial time, must the variable in the big-O function that represents the run time (denoted henceforth as $O(f(n))$) be the number of vertices? Or can one say that a graph algorithm runs in polynomial time if the variable $n$ is something else (like the number of edges in a graph).
Edit: Could an algorithm that is $O(N)$ (where $N$ is the number of trees in the graph) also be considered as being in $P$?
graph-theory asymptotics computational-complexity computability
graph-theory asymptotics computational-complexity computability
edited Dec 29 '18 at 17:31
Aryaman Gupta
asked Dec 29 '18 at 12:25
Aryaman GuptaAryaman Gupta
507
507
1
$begingroup$
The variable could be either of them or a subset of them. It will depend on the case for which time complexity is being determined.
$endgroup$
– toric_actions
Dec 29 '18 at 12:29
1
$begingroup$
$Nodesleq 2Edges$ and $Edgesleq Nodes^2$ so a polynomial result for one implies a polynomial result for the other. (Assuming all nodes touch at least one edge)
$endgroup$
– Michael
Dec 29 '18 at 15:49
$begingroup$
If an algorithm is $O(N)$ (Where $N$) is the number of trees in a graph. then is that algorithm still in the complexity class $P$?
$endgroup$
– Aryaman Gupta
Dec 29 '18 at 17:34
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
The variable could be either of them or a subset of them. It will depend on the case for which time complexity is being determined.
$endgroup$
– toric_actions
Dec 29 '18 at 12:29
1
$begingroup$
$Nodesleq 2Edges$ and $Edgesleq Nodes^2$ so a polynomial result for one implies a polynomial result for the other. (Assuming all nodes touch at least one edge)
$endgroup$
– Michael
Dec 29 '18 at 15:49
$begingroup$
If an algorithm is $O(N)$ (Where $N$) is the number of trees in a graph. then is that algorithm still in the complexity class $P$?
$endgroup$
– Aryaman Gupta
Dec 29 '18 at 17:34
1
1
$begingroup$
The variable could be either of them or a subset of them. It will depend on the case for which time complexity is being determined.
$endgroup$
– toric_actions
Dec 29 '18 at 12:29
$begingroup$
The variable could be either of them or a subset of them. It will depend on the case for which time complexity is being determined.
$endgroup$
– toric_actions
Dec 29 '18 at 12:29
1
1
$begingroup$
$Nodesleq 2Edges$ and $Edgesleq Nodes^2$ so a polynomial result for one implies a polynomial result for the other. (Assuming all nodes touch at least one edge)
$endgroup$
– Michael
Dec 29 '18 at 15:49
$begingroup$
$Nodesleq 2Edges$ and $Edgesleq Nodes^2$ so a polynomial result for one implies a polynomial result for the other. (Assuming all nodes touch at least one edge)
$endgroup$
– Michael
Dec 29 '18 at 15:49
$begingroup$
If an algorithm is $O(N)$ (Where $N$) is the number of trees in a graph. then is that algorithm still in the complexity class $P$?
$endgroup$
– Aryaman Gupta
Dec 29 '18 at 17:34
$begingroup$
If an algorithm is $O(N)$ (Where $N$) is the number of trees in a graph. then is that algorithm still in the complexity class $P$?
$endgroup$
– Aryaman Gupta
Dec 29 '18 at 17:34
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Informally: An algorithm is polynomial time if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input. Suppose the input for an algorithm is a graph $G$. Then letting $n$ be the number of vertices and $m$ the number of edges, if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in either $n$ or $m$, then that algorithm is considered a polynomial-time algorithm, since the size of $G$ is $n+m$.
An algorithm that runs in time say linear in the number of trees $G$ has [which may be exponential in the size of $G$] is not in $P$. Why? The graph $G$ itself encodes all the information needed for the algorithm and so could be the input. So the algorithm would not run in time polynomial in the size of $G$.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@HenningMakholm sure. But the OP asked about graphs explicitly, and generalizing, it is whether an algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input.
$endgroup$
– Mike
Dec 30 '18 at 2:44
1
$begingroup$
Ah, I think you're right, actually. Never mind.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
Dec 30 '18 at 2:46
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "69"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: true,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: 10,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3055793%2fdoubt-regarding-the-variable-by-which-time-complexity-is-measured%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Informally: An algorithm is polynomial time if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input. Suppose the input for an algorithm is a graph $G$. Then letting $n$ be the number of vertices and $m$ the number of edges, if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in either $n$ or $m$, then that algorithm is considered a polynomial-time algorithm, since the size of $G$ is $n+m$.
An algorithm that runs in time say linear in the number of trees $G$ has [which may be exponential in the size of $G$] is not in $P$. Why? The graph $G$ itself encodes all the information needed for the algorithm and so could be the input. So the algorithm would not run in time polynomial in the size of $G$.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@HenningMakholm sure. But the OP asked about graphs explicitly, and generalizing, it is whether an algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input.
$endgroup$
– Mike
Dec 30 '18 at 2:44
1
$begingroup$
Ah, I think you're right, actually. Never mind.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
Dec 30 '18 at 2:46
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Informally: An algorithm is polynomial time if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input. Suppose the input for an algorithm is a graph $G$. Then letting $n$ be the number of vertices and $m$ the number of edges, if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in either $n$ or $m$, then that algorithm is considered a polynomial-time algorithm, since the size of $G$ is $n+m$.
An algorithm that runs in time say linear in the number of trees $G$ has [which may be exponential in the size of $G$] is not in $P$. Why? The graph $G$ itself encodes all the information needed for the algorithm and so could be the input. So the algorithm would not run in time polynomial in the size of $G$.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@HenningMakholm sure. But the OP asked about graphs explicitly, and generalizing, it is whether an algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input.
$endgroup$
– Mike
Dec 30 '18 at 2:44
1
$begingroup$
Ah, I think you're right, actually. Never mind.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
Dec 30 '18 at 2:46
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Informally: An algorithm is polynomial time if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input. Suppose the input for an algorithm is a graph $G$. Then letting $n$ be the number of vertices and $m$ the number of edges, if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in either $n$ or $m$, then that algorithm is considered a polynomial-time algorithm, since the size of $G$ is $n+m$.
An algorithm that runs in time say linear in the number of trees $G$ has [which may be exponential in the size of $G$] is not in $P$. Why? The graph $G$ itself encodes all the information needed for the algorithm and so could be the input. So the algorithm would not run in time polynomial in the size of $G$.
$endgroup$
Informally: An algorithm is polynomial time if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input. Suppose the input for an algorithm is a graph $G$. Then letting $n$ be the number of vertices and $m$ the number of edges, if the algorithm runs in time polynomial in either $n$ or $m$, then that algorithm is considered a polynomial-time algorithm, since the size of $G$ is $n+m$.
An algorithm that runs in time say linear in the number of trees $G$ has [which may be exponential in the size of $G$] is not in $P$. Why? The graph $G$ itself encodes all the information needed for the algorithm and so could be the input. So the algorithm would not run in time polynomial in the size of $G$.
answered Dec 30 '18 at 2:38
MikeMike
4,686512
4,686512
$begingroup$
@HenningMakholm sure. But the OP asked about graphs explicitly, and generalizing, it is whether an algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input.
$endgroup$
– Mike
Dec 30 '18 at 2:44
1
$begingroup$
Ah, I think you're right, actually. Never mind.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
Dec 30 '18 at 2:46
add a comment |
$begingroup$
@HenningMakholm sure. But the OP asked about graphs explicitly, and generalizing, it is whether an algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input.
$endgroup$
– Mike
Dec 30 '18 at 2:44
1
$begingroup$
Ah, I think you're right, actually. Never mind.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
Dec 30 '18 at 2:46
$begingroup$
@HenningMakholm sure. But the OP asked about graphs explicitly, and generalizing, it is whether an algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input.
$endgroup$
– Mike
Dec 30 '18 at 2:44
$begingroup$
@HenningMakholm sure. But the OP asked about graphs explicitly, and generalizing, it is whether an algorithm runs in time polynomial in the size of the input.
$endgroup$
– Mike
Dec 30 '18 at 2:44
1
1
$begingroup$
Ah, I think you're right, actually. Never mind.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
Dec 30 '18 at 2:46
$begingroup$
Ah, I think you're right, actually. Never mind.
$endgroup$
– Henning Makholm
Dec 30 '18 at 2:46
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3055793%2fdoubt-regarding-the-variable-by-which-time-complexity-is-measured%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
$begingroup$
The variable could be either of them or a subset of them. It will depend on the case for which time complexity is being determined.
$endgroup$
– toric_actions
Dec 29 '18 at 12:29
1
$begingroup$
$Nodesleq 2Edges$ and $Edgesleq Nodes^2$ so a polynomial result for one implies a polynomial result for the other. (Assuming all nodes touch at least one edge)
$endgroup$
– Michael
Dec 29 '18 at 15:49
$begingroup$
If an algorithm is $O(N)$ (Where $N$) is the number of trees in a graph. then is that algorithm still in the complexity class $P$?
$endgroup$
– Aryaman Gupta
Dec 29 '18 at 17:34