Big O notation

The Big O notation is a mathematical notation used to describe the asymptotic behavior of functions. More precisely, it is used to describe an asymptotic upper bound for the magnitude of a function in terms of another, usually simpler, function.

Related Topics:
Mathematical notation - Asymptotic behavior - Function - Magnitude

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In mathematics, it is usually used to characterize the residual term of a truncated infinite series, especially an asymptotic series. In computer science, it is useful in the analysis of the complexity of algorithms.

Related Topics:
Mathematics - Infinite series - Asymptotic series - Computer science - Analysis - Complexity - Algorithm

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It was first introduced by German number theorist Paul Bachmann in his 1892 book Analytische Zahlentheorie. The notation was popularized in the work of another German number theorist Edmund Landau, hence it is sometimes called a Landau symbol. The big-O, standing for "order of", was originally a capital omicron; today the capital letter O is used, but never the digit

Related Topics:
German - Number theorist - Paul Bachmann - Edmund Landau - Landau symbol - Omicron

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zero.

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