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Asymptotic Analysis

GATE CSE 2017 Set 1 · Q4

MCQ1 markEasy

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Consider the following functions from positive integers to real numbers: 10, n, n, log⁡2n, 100n10,\ \sqrt{n},\ n,\ \log_2 n,\ \frac{100}{n} The CORRECT arrangement of the above functions in increasing order of asymptotic complexity is:

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Solution

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Official answer: B) (100)/(n), 10, log2 n, √(n), n

Asymptotic Analysis

To arrange the given functions in increasing order of asymptotic growth as n→∞n \to \infty:

  1. 100n=Θ(1n)→0\frac{100}{n} = \Theta\left(\frac{1}{n}\right) \to 0 as n→∞n \to \infty (strictly decreasing function, lowest asymptotic growth).

  2. 10=Θ(1)10 = \Theta(1) (constant function).

  3. log⁡2n=Θ(log⁡n)\log_2 n = \Theta(\log n) (logarithmic growth, grows faster than a constant).

  4. n=n0.5=Θ(n)\sqrt{n} = n^{0.5} = \Theta(\sqrt{n}) (sub-linear polynomial growth, grows faster than logarithmic).

  5. n=Θ(n)n = \Theta(n) (linear growth, grows faster than n\sqrt{n}).

Thus, the correct increasing order of asymptotic complexity is:

100n, 10, log⁡2n, n, n\frac{100}{n},\ 10,\ \log_2 n,\ \sqrt{n},\ n

This matches option (B).

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This Asymptotic Analysis previous year question is Q4 of the GATE CSE 2017 Set 1 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Asymptotic Analysis in Algorithms, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Asymptotic Analysis in GATE CSE

Asymptotic Analysis has 31 GATE CSE PYQs across 19 papers from 2011 to 2026. 15 of them are 1-mark MCQs like this one, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2017 Set 1.

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GateAI solution cardGATE CSE 2017 Set 1 · Q4 · MCQ

Consider the following functions from positive integers to real numbers: 10, √(n), n, log2 n, (100)/(n) The CORRECT arrangement of the above functions in increasing order of asymptotic complexity is:

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