I am trying to prove the following worst-case scenario for the Quicksort algorithm but am having some trouble. Initially, we have an array of size n, where n = ij. The idea is that at every partition step of Quicksort, you end up with two sub-arrays where one is of size i and the other is of size i(j-1). i in this case is an integer constant greater than 0. I have drawn out the recursive tree of some examples and understand why this is a worst-case scenario and that the running time will be theta(n^2). To prove this, I've used the iteration method to solve the recurrence equation:
T(n) = T(ij) = m if j = 1
T(n) = T(ij) = T(i) + T(i(j-1)) + cn if j > 1
T(i) = m
T(2i) = m + m + c*2i = 2m + 2ci
T(3i) = m + 2m + 2ci + 3ci = 3m + 5ci
So it looks like the recurrence is:
j
T(n) = jm + ci * sum k - 1
k=1
At this point, I'm a bit lost as to what to do. It looks the summation at the end will result in j^2 if expanded out, but I need to show that it somehow equals n^2. Any explanation on how to continue with this would be appreciated.
Pay attention, the quicksort algorithm worst case scenario is when you have two subproblems of size 0 and n-1. In this scenario, you have this recurrence equations for each level:
T(n) = T(n-1) + T(0) < -- at first level of tree
T(n-1) = T(n-2) + T(0) < -- at second level of tree
T(n-2) = T(n-3) + T(0) < -- at third level of tree
.
.
.
The sum of costs at each level is an arithmetic serie:
n n(n-1)
T(n) = sum k = ------ ~ n^2 (for n -> +inf)
k=1 2
It is O(n^2).
Its a problem of simple mathematics. The complexity as you have calculated correctly is
O(jm + ij^2)
what you have found out is a parameterized complextiy. The standard O(n^2) is contained in this as follows - assuming i=1 you have a standard base case so m=O(1) hence j=n therefore we get O(n^2). if you put ij=n you will get O(nm/i+n^2/i) . Now what you should remember is that m is a function of i depending upon what you will use as the base case algorithm hence m=f(i) thus you are left with O(nf(i)/i + n^2/i). Now again note that since there is no linear algorithm for general sorting hence f(i) = omega(ilogi) which will give you O(nlogi + n^2/i). So you have only one degree of freedom that is i. Check that for any value of i you cannot reduce it below nlogn which is the best bound for comparison based.
Now what I am confused is that you are doing some worst case analysis of quick sort. This is not the way its done. When you say worst case it implies you are using randomization in which case the worst case will always be when i=1 hence the worst case bound will be O(n^2). An elegant way to do this is explained in randomized algorithm book by R. Motwani and Raghavan alternatively if you are a programmer then you look at Cormen.
Related
How to calculate time complexity of recurrence relation f(n) = f(n/2) + f(n/3). We have base case at n=1 and n=0.
How to calculate time complexity for general case i.e f(n) = f(n/x) + f(n/y), where x<n and y<n.
Edit-1 :(after first answer posted) every number considered is integer.
Edit-2 :(after first answer posted) I like the answer given by Mbo but is it possible to answer this without using any fancy theorem like master theorem etc.Like by making tree etc.
However users are free to answer the way they like and i will try to understand.
In "layman terms" you can get dependence with larger coefficient:
T(n) = T(n/2) + T(n/2) + O(1)
build call tree for n=2^k and see that the last tree level contains 2^k items, higher level 2^k-1 items, next one 2^k-2 and so on. Sum of sequence (geometric progression)
2^k + 2^k-1 + 2^k-2 + ... + 1 = 2^(k+1) = 2*n
so complexity for this dependence is linear too.
Now get dependence with smaller (zero) second coefficient:
T(n) = T(n/2) + O(1)
and ensure in linear complexity too.
Seems clear that complexity of recurrence in question lies between complexities for these simpler examples, and is linear.
In general case recurrences with complex branching might be solved with Aktra-Bazzi method (more general approach than Master theorem)
I assume that dependence is
T(n) = T(n/2) + T(n/3) + O(1)
In this case g=1, to find p we should numerically solve
(1/2)^p + (1/3)^p = 1
and get p~0.79, then integrate
T(x) = Theta(x^0.79 * (1 + Int[1..x]((1/u^0.79)*du))) =
Theta(x^0.79 * (1 + 4.8*x^0.21 - 4.8) =
Theta(x^0.79 + 4.8*x) =
Theta(x)
So complexity is linear
I am trying to figure out time complexities for the following:
First:
j = 1
while j < n:
j += log(j + 5)
Would this be log n?
Secondly, a recurrence relation:
T(n) = T(n/2) + T(n/4) + n
I know you can't apply Master Theorem here but I am not sure how to find the complexity otherwise. A solution would be nice, but references to how to help me understand this would be good I guess.
Next, another recurrence relation:
T(n) = T(n/2) + log(n)
I am fairly certain that Master Theorem can be applied here. Leaving us with:
a = 1, b = 2, f(n) = log(n)
This means we would compare
n^(log_2(1)) to log(n) ==> n^0 to log(n)
Making it Theta(log(n))
Finally
j=1
while(j<n):
k=j
while k<n:
k += sqrt(k)
j += 0.25*j
I can tell that the outer loop will run 4 times. I am unclear as to the inner loop, however. Would it be log^2 n log log n or am I completely off in my thinking.
I am just studying for a test and am finding the materials at my disposal to be woefully inadequate.
The First is O(n) as we know each time at least 1 added to the previous result.
If you exapand the recurrent equation, the second is:
T(n) = 2T(n/4) + T(n/8) + n + n/2 < 3T(n/4) + 3n/2
We can say from master theorem that T(n) = \Theta(n).
The third is true and it is \Theta(log(n)).
Outer loop in the forth loop is T(n+1) = 5T(n)/4. It means outer loop is run log_{1.25}n. In the worst case, we can say the inner loop runs in O(n). Hence, it would be O(nlog(n)). If you want tighter complexity analysis, you should scrutinize more,.
Given the below algorithm:
Algorithm Find-Max(Array, size)
Max = -INFINITY
for k:= 1 to n do
if(A[k] > Max-sf) Then
Max-sf:=A[k]
end if
The question is what is the average times is the variable max updated?
I am practicing algorithm analysis and below is my thought but I am not sure about it so I would like to ask for advice.
Let T(n) be the number of comparisons in each call on find-Max with size = n.
T(n) = T(n-1) + 1/n
where 1/n is the probability such that the the largest number is at the index n. Therefore,
T(n-1) = T(n-2) + 1/(n-1)
T(n-2) = T(n-3) + 1/(n-2)
By telescoping,
T(n) = 1/n + 1/(n-1)+ 1/(n-2) + .... + 1
, which is harmonic series. Therefore the average times the variable Max-sf updated is log(n))
This is how i prove it.
So, I would like to ask 3 questions:
(1) Is the proof above correct?
(2) Is there a way to get precise value of the number of comparisons?
(3) Supposed that we use the divide and conquer method by using similar idea as merge sort instead of scanning an array, will the number of updates still the same?
1) I'm not sure regarding your proof, but I find this one to be the most formal and convincing one.
2) The precise number of comparisons seems to be fixed. You always do n comparisons in the loop.
3) Regarding the divide and conquer option, it can't be better than the worst case number of updates (which is n), since it behaves like:
T(n) = 2T(n/2) + 1
Which results in T(2^n) = 2*2^n-1, which means Theta(n) complexity.
I'm taking Data Structures and Algorithm course and I'm stuck at this recursive equation:
T(n) = logn*T(logn) + n
obviously this can't be handled with the use of the Master Theorem, so I was wondering if anybody has any ideas for solving this recursive equation. I'm pretty sure that it should be solved with a change in the parameters, like considering n to be 2^m , but I couldn't manage to find any good fix.
The answer is Theta(n). To prove something is Theta(n), you have to show it is Omega(n) and O(n). Omega(n) in this case is obvious because T(n)>=n. To show that T(n)=O(n), first
Pick a large finite value N such that log(n)^2 < n/100 for all n>N. This is possible because log(n)^2=o(n).
Pick a constant C>100 such that T(n)<Cn for all n<=N. This is possible due to the fact that N is finite.
We will show inductively that T(n)<Cn for all n>N. Since log(n)<n, by the induction hypothesis, we have:
T(n) < n + log(n) C log(n)
= n + C log(n)^2
< n + (C/100) n
= C * (1/100 + 1/C) * n
< C/50 * n
< C*n
In fact, for this function it is even possible to show that T(n) = n + o(n) using a similar argument.
This is by no means an official proof but I think it goes like this.
The key is the + n part. Because of this, T is bounded below by o(n). (or should that be big omega? I'm rusty.) So let's assume that T(n) = O(n) and have a go at that.
Substitute into the original relation
T(n) = (log n)O(log n) + n
= O(log^2(n)) + O(n)
= O(n)
So it still holds.
Wikipedia states that the average runtime of quickselect algorithm (Link) is O(n). However, I could not clearly understand how this is so. Could anyone explain to me (via recurrence relation + master method usage) as to how the average runtime is O(n)?
Because
we already know which partition our desired element lies in.
We do not need to sort (by doing partition on) all the elements, but only do operation on the partition we need.
As in quick sort, we have to do partition in halves *, and then in halves of a half, but this time, we only need to do the next round partition in one single partition (half) of the two where the element is expected to lie in.
It is like (not very accurate)
n + 1/2 n + 1/4 n + 1/8 n + ..... < 2 n
So it is O(n).
Half is used for convenience, the actual partition is not exact 50%.
To do an average case analysis of quickselect one has to consider how likely it is that two elements are compared during the algorithm for every pair of elements and assuming a random pivoting. From this we can derive the average number of comparisons. Unfortunately the analysis I will show requires some longer calculations but it is a clean average case analysis as opposed to the current answers.
Let's assume the field we want to select the k-th smallest element from is a random permutation of [1,...,n]. The pivot elements we choose during the course of the algorithm can also be seen as a given random permutation. During the algorithm we then always pick the next feasible pivot from this permutation therefore they are chosen uniform at random as every element has the same probability of occurring as the next feasible element in the random permutation.
There is one simple, yet very important, observation: We only compare two elements i and j (with i<j) if and only if one of them is chosen as first pivot element from the range [min(k,i), max(k,j)]. If another element from this range is chosen first then they will never be compared because we continue searching in a sub-field where at least one of the elements i,j is not contained in.
Because of the above observation and the fact that the pivots are chosen uniform at random the probability of a comparison between i and j is:
2/(max(k,j) - min(k,i) + 1)
(Two events out of max(k,j) - min(k,i) + 1 possibilities.)
We split the analysis in three parts:
max(k,j) = k, therefore i < j <= k
min(k,i) = k, therefore k <= i < j
min(k,i) = i and max(k,j) = j, therefore i < k < j
In the third case the less-equal signs are omitted because we already consider those cases in the first two cases.
Now let's get our hands a little dirty on calculations. We just sum up all the probabilities as this gives the expected number of comparisons.
Case 1
Case 2
Similar to case 1 so this remains as an exercise. ;)
Case 3
We use H_r for the r-th harmonic number which grows approximately like ln(r).
Conclusion
All three cases need a linear number of expected comparisons. This shows that quickselect indeed has an expected runtime in O(n). Note that - as already mentioned - the worst case is in O(n^2).
Note: The idea of this proof is not mine. I think that's roughly the standard average case analysis of quickselect.
If there are any errors please let me know.
In quickselect, as specified, we apply recursion on only one half of the partition.
Average Case Analysis:
First Step: T(n) = cn + T(n/2)
where, cn = time to perform partition, where c is any constant(doesn't matter). T(n/2) = applying recursion on one half of the partition.Since it's an average case we assume that the partition was the median.
As we keep on doing recursion, we get the following set of equation:
T(n/2) = cn/2 + T(n/4) T(n/4) = cn/2 + T(n/8) .. . T(2) = c.2 + T(1) T(1) = c.1 + ...
Summing the equations and cross-cancelling like values produces a linear result.
c(n + n/2 + n/4 + ... + 2 + 1) = c(2n) //sum of a GP
Hence, it's O(n)
I also felt very conflicted at first when I read that the average time complexity of quickselect is O(n) while we break the list in half each time (like binary search or quicksort). It turns out that breaking the search space in half each time doesn't guarantee an O(log n) or O(n log n) runtime. What makes quicksort O(n log n) and quickselect is O(n) is that we always need to explore all branches of the recursive tree for quicksort and only a single branch for quickselect. Let's compare the time complexity recurrence relations of quicksort and quickselect to prove my point.
Quicksort:
T(n) = n + 2T(n/2)
= n + 2(n/2 + 2T(n/4))
= n + 2(n/2) + 4T(n/4)
= n + 2(n/2) + 4(n/4) + ... + n(n/n)
= 2^0(n/2^0) + 2^1(n/2^1) + ... + 2^log2(n)(n/2^log2(n))
= n (log2(n) + 1) (since we are adding n to itself log2 + 1 times)
Quickselect:
T(n) = n + T(n/2)
= n + n/2 + T(n/4)
= n + n/2 + n/4 + ... n/n
= n(1 + 1/2 + 1/4 + ... + 1/2^log2(n))
= n (1/(1-(1/2))) = 2n (by geometric series)
I hope this convinces you why the average runtime of quickselect is O(n).