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The average complexity of deterministic and randomized parallel comparison-sorting algorithms

Journal Article · · SIAM J. Comput.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1137/0217074· OSTI ID:6337973

In practice, the average time of (deterministic or randomized) sorting algorithms seems to be more relevant than the worst-case time of deterministic algorithms. Still, the many known complexity bounds for parallel comparison sorting include no nontrivial lower bounds for the average time required to sort by comparisons n elements with p processors (via deterministic or randomized algorithms). The authors show that for rho greater than or equal ton this time is THETA(log n/log (1 + rho/n))(it is easy to show that for rholess than or equal ton the time is THETA(n log n/rho) = THETA(log n/rho/n)). Therefore even the average-case behavior of randomized algorithms is not more efficient than the worst-case behavior of deterministic ones.

Research Organization:
Dept. of Mathematics, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv Univ., Tel Aviv (IL)
OSTI ID:
6337973
Journal Information:
SIAM J. Comput.; (United States), Journal Name: SIAM J. Comput.; (United States) Vol. 17:6; ISSN SMJCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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