# Need Help Make sure of Order

1. Sep 21, 2008

Hello All, I need help making sure I am right about this. Say for example I have these two functions: f(n) = 2^n and g(n) = 3^n.

Now the order is O(2^n) and O(3^n) respectfuilly. Now I need make sure I am right about this: based on the order, O(2^n) < O(3^n) therefore f(n) < THETA(g(n)).

Is this statement correct here when I say f(n) < THETA(g(n)) and that O(2^n) < O(3^n)?

Last edited: Sep 21, 2008
2. Sep 22, 2008

### Tac-Tics

Isn't O(2^n) = O(3^n)? Exponential functions differ by a multiplicative constant.

3. Sep 22, 2008

### disregardthat

No?
The constant C does not exist such that $$C \cdot 2^x > 3^x$$ for all x.

4. Sep 22, 2008

### Tac-Tics

Ack. My intuition failed me. I was thinking of 2x^n versus 3x^n for a constant n. Sry.

5. Sep 22, 2008

### CRGreathouse

O(2^n) is O(3^n) in the usual abuse of notation sense. But the set of functions that are O(2^n) is a proper subset of the set of functions that are O(3^n). For example, 2.0001^n is not O(2^n).

"f(n) < THETA(g(n))" isn't defined -- O, o, Theta, and the others use only the element operator (or, by the abuse mentioned above, an equal sign). Do you perhaps mean that 2^n is o(3^n)? That would be correct, because lim 2^n/3^n = 0.

6. Sep 22, 2008