Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Exponential efficiency refers to an algorithm or function whose running time grows exponentially with respect to its input size. In other words, as the input gets larger, this type of algorithm experiences rapid growth in its execution time.
Polynomial efficiency refers to an algorithm or function that has a time complexity represented by a polynomial equation. The running time of such algorithms grows at a rate proportional to some power of the input size.
Factorial efficiency refers to an algorithm or function that has a time complexity that grows factorially with the input size. This means that as the input size increases, the running time increases at an extremely rapid rate.
Logarithmic Efficiency: Logarithmic efficiency refers to an algorithm or function that has a time complexity that grows logarithmically with the input size. As the input size increases, the running time increases at a much slower rate compared to exponential or factorial functions.