🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1415@qip.UUCP> shino@qip.UUCP (Rei Shinozuka) writes:
> Actually, the more normal use of the term "order of magnitude" with respect
> to computer algorithms is O(n).  If 2.2 runs 10 or even 100 times slower
> than 1.5 for an arbitrary n, it may still run in the same order of magnitude,
> with a constant of 10 or 100, respectively.

	We're going to quickly sink into a debate about semantics almost as
bad as the "how do you pronounce vi" crap the supposed unix wizards are
arguing about, but I think your usage in incorrect.  What you are
describing (linear vs. quadratic vs. exponential vs. etc.) is what I would
call just plain "order".  Once you add the "of magnitude" you are talking
about a different concept, i.e. powers of ten.  Nobody talks about, for
example, a "third order of magnitude differential equation".
-- 
Roy Smith, Public Health Research Institute
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