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Subject: An apology to all for my recent tone in the O(f(n)) postings

Author: Dann Corbit

Date: 10:13:21 05/09/01


If you have read my posts on news:comp.lang.c, you will have recognized that the
fastest way to hit my hot button is to 'correct' someone's correct answer with a
wrong answer.

I suspect that the way O(f(n)) is taught simply must be different in other parts
of the world or something.  The understanding I got from school and from every
book I have ever read seems a bit at odds with what many seem to believe.

Now, I tend to go with an authority like Knuth etc. and just believe that their
definition is the right one.  But there is no "ANSI/ISO standard" on what this
notation means, so there may be some other definitions floating around
somewhere.

Now, I don't apologize for the content of my posts, because (to the best of my
knowlege) they are truthful or at least my closest undertanding thereof.  It is
(of course) possible that I am mistaken about some facet of algorithm analysis.
While it is a major focus of my work, I have been wrong about major things in
the past.  Even so, I believe that my understanding is correct -- based solely
on what I have been taught and what I have read.

But I do apologize for the tone, since I was a bit antagonized and (thereafter)
antagonistic.  A point can be made politely just as well as harshly -- probably
much better actually.

Yet another proof that I am one of the worst possible choices for moderator of
CCC.



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