Comparing Algorithms
Learn about different complexity measures like Big O and their uses.
Introduction
There are several different algorithms to solve a given computational problem. It is natural, then, to compare these alternatives. But how do we know if algorithm A is better than algorithm B?
Important criteria: time and space
One important factor that determines the “goodness” of an algorithm is the amount of time it takes to solve a given problem. If algorithm A takes less time to solve the same problem than does algorithm B, then algorithm A is considered better.
Another important factor to compare two algorithms is the amount of memory required to solve a given problem. The algorithm that requires less memory is considered ...