Maximum Rule

1. Apr 2, 2008

khdani

Hello,
O(max(f1(n),f2(n),......,fk(n))) = O(f1(n) + f2(n) + .... + fk(n))

thank you

2. Apr 2, 2008

HallsofIvy

Proof by induction looks like the obvious thing to try.

3. Apr 2, 2008

transgalactic

what O meens???

there is some logical error
weird flying robot question

in the first part you mention:
O(max(f1(n),f2(n),......,fk(n)))
i can only guess that the max function returns the maximal value
among the presented functions
on the other hand you say that this maximal value should be equaled to the sum
of all the presented functions in the list.
i think that the only way i t could work
is when all the functions except one are all zeros
you have f1=0 f2=0 ..f15=50 f16=0 etc..
then their sum also equals to the maximal function value.
this whole thing is only a presumption

well i am back to my digital design questions

Last edited: Apr 2, 2008
4. Apr 2, 2008

HallsofIvy

If you do not understand a notation, just ask about it and assume that what other people are saying is wrong!

The "O" notation refers to the "order" or, for functions of an integer, n, the rate of convergence (or divergence) as n goes to infinity. Saying that O(max(f1(n), f2(n),..)= O(f1(n)+ f2(n)+ ...) says that the sequence formed by choosing ai the largest of f1(i), f2(i), ..., converges (or diverges) as fast as the sequence an= sum of f1(n)+ f2(n)+ ....

5. Apr 2, 2008

khdani

'O' is the 'Big Oh' notation in complexity theory.

HallsofIvy, you're right the proof is by induction.
I've used the fact that f1(n)+....+fk(n) <= k*max(f1(n),.....,fk(n)) (proved by induction also), am I on the right route ?