# Big-Oh Problem

1. Sep 3, 2005

### IcyBlueRose

I'm having a problem with a Big-Oh problem, and I think it's more that I'm not understanding what the problem is asking and that I'm not completely understanding the definitions. There are two parts of the problem:

Here is the problem verbatim:
********************************************************
Assume you have functions f and g such that f(n) is O(g(n)). For each of the following statements, decide whether you think it is true or false and give a proof or counterexample.

A. log2 f(n) is O(log2 g(n)).
B. f(n)^2 is O(g(n)^2 ).

*********************************************************
(In part a the 2 is a subscript)

Does anyone have any pointers? The book I'm using doesn't give an example like it, so I'm not even really sure what it's asking.

2. Sep 3, 2005

### bomba923

Assuming $$O [ g ( n ) ]$$ is a composite function, let:
$$g\left( n \right) = 5n$$
$$O\left( n \right) = 4n$$

And so,
$$\therefore f\left( n \right) = O\left[ {g\left( n \right)} \right] \Rightarrow f\left( n \right) = 20n$$

*However, for Part A:
$$\log _2 20n \ne 4\log _2 \left( {5n} \right) , n \ne \frac{{2^{\frac{2} {3}} }}{5}$$

*And for Part B:
$$400n^2 \ne 4\left( {25n^2 } \right) , n \ne 0$$

Last edited: Sep 3, 2005
3. Sep 3, 2005

### lurflurf

That is not a composite function.
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/AsymptoticNotation.html

Last edited: Sep 3, 2005
4. Sep 3, 2005

### bomba923

Sorry had no idea this was of asymptopic notation!
well, I thought it was just a normal composite function, like those in early algebra

Then again, it would have been
K-12 forum in that case
Sorry--sorry

Last edited: Sep 3, 2005
5. Sep 4, 2005

### lurflurf

So
f(n) is O(g(n)) means
|f(n)|<A*g(n) for some constant A
You should state if this is for all n, or in the limit.
Also is f>0
I will assume f>0 so that
0<f(n)<A*g(n)
if s(x) is strictly increasing when x>0
ie
s(x+y)>s(x) whenever x,y>0
then
f(n)<A*g(n)
implies
s(f(n))<s(A*g(n))
x^2 and log2(x) meet this requirement and each allow further simplification
f(n)<A*g(n)
so
(f(n))^2<(A*g(n))^2
(f(n))^2<(A^2)*(g(n))^2
is
(f(n))^2 is O((g(n))^2)
true?
f(n)<A*g(n)
log2(f(n))<log2(A*g(n))
log2(f(n))<log2(A)+log2(g(n))
This puts much doubt on
log2 f(n) is O(log2 g(n))
consider f(n)=2^(-n^2) g(n)=2^(-n)
f(n)<2*g(n)
so
f(n) is O(g(n))
log2 f=-n^2 log2 g=-n
so we have g<0 hance falsehood, but even if
log2 f(n) is O(|log2 g(n)|) were intended
n^2 is O(n) is also false

6. Sep 4, 2005

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
There are examples in your calculus book. :tongue2: (At least if you've learned the theorem that characterizes asymptotic notation in terms of limits)

But honestly, these are straightforward with the algebraic definition as well.

7. Sep 4, 2005

### IcyBlueRose

Thanks for the pointers.

No, there aren't examples in my calc book I've taken calc I, II and III, but this is for my Algorithms computer science class.

8. Sep 4, 2005

### DaveC426913

Drat. Sucked in by a thread title again.

Should have wised up when I noticed that the topic section wasn't Biology...