upper bound, lower bound

algorithm, complexity-theory, time-complexity

Solution

Proving an upper bound means you have proven that the algorithm will use no more than some limit on a resource.

Proving a lower bound means you have proven that the algorithm will use no less than some limit on a resource.

"Resource" in this context could be time, memory, bandwidth, or something else.

Problem

What does it mean to prove an upper bound or lower bound to an algorithm?

Original source