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General Discussion

Posted by jonroby
jonroby
16,113 Points

N log N

What does N log N mean? Wouldn't 3 log2 64 = (log2 64) ^ 3? Which simplifies to 6 ^ 3 = 216. In other words, the 3 is an exponent of the log (base 2) of 64.

If that is correct, then wouldn't N log N = (log2 N) ^ N? That is, would N be an exponent of the log (base 2) of N?

I want to know because N log N appears in discussions of Big O notation. But even though everything I said seems to follow, it doesn't seem like it can actually be right because as N increases, the resulting number becomes too large to do any calculations on a calculator.

2 Answers

Iago Wandalsen Prates
Iago Wandalsen Prates
21,699 Points
Iago Wandalsen Prates
Iago Wandalsen Prates
21,699 Points

Actually, 3 log2 64 = 18. that means 3*(log2 64) or you it could be log2 64^3

jonroby
jonroby
16,113 Points
jonroby
jonroby
16,113 Points

Yes the answer is 3 log2 64 = 18! So you just multiply 3 x the log. I though in high school learned that you take the number to the left of the log as a exponent over everything, but this is wrong.

Thank you!