How We State Complexity in This Course

Two people can analyze the same algorithm, give two different complexities, and both can be defended. That happens because they are counting different things. One counts the output array toward space, the other does not. One reports the average case, the other the worst case.

This lesson states the counting rules this course uses. Every complexity you read in the solutions that follow means the same thing, measured the same way. The rules are also a good default set to state out loud in an interview.