asymptotic notation
nounUK /ˌæsɪmpˈtɒtɪk nəʊˈteɪʃən/
US /ˌæsɪmpˈtɑːtɪk noʊˈteɪʃən/
A way to describe how fast a job gets bigger when the amount of stuff it works on grows.
The teacher used asymptotic notation to show that the sorting program slows down gently as the list gets longer.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A math shorthand for describing how a function behaves when its input becomes very large.
In calculus class we used asymptotic notation to compare two functions as x goes to infinity.
3. A way to compare algorithms by ignoring small details and focusing on their long-term speed.
Using asymptotic notation, the engineer saw that both programs were equally fast for huge inputs.
4. A set of symbols like O, Ω, and Θ used to group functions by how quickly they grow.
The notes explained the three main kinds of asymptotic notation with simple graphs.