Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Big-O notation

Author: Andrew Dados

Date: 11:10:02 05/09/01

Go up one level in this thread


On May 09, 2001 at 13:47:49, Dann Corbit wrote:

>
>Now, if we accept the "fininte inputs means O(1)" definition, then only and
>idiot would argue that all problems are O(1).  If all problems are O(1), then
>everything is computable. But something is wrong with that picture.
>
>Divorce the algorithm from the data.
>Count the fundamental operations.
>Describe these as a function.
>
>That's what big-O notation boils down to.  And if O(f(n)) finds f() to be an
>exponential function, then we must keep n small or it is of little use to try
>and solve it (worst case).  There is no other value to O(f(n)) calculation.
>
>The definition put forth by some that "fininte inputs means O(1)" is useless.

I agree with your last sentence, yes.

I would rather say, that 'finite state number of a problem means O(1)'. Or 'if
it is solvable once for all (any chess position in our case) then it's O(1).
Because we proved there exist a formula computable without loops. We don't know
such a formula yet, but we know it exists. For given traveling salesman problem
we need those loops as for now.

Now, set up an 8-piece position and leave it overnight for Crafty with 5 piece
TBs. Would it stay O(exp(n))? Surely no. Most likely you'll get O(1). So already
we catching that O(1) tail slowly :)

-Andrew-



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.