exponential-time algorithm

exponential-time algorithm

(complexity)An algorithm (or Turing Machine) that isguaranteed to terminate within a number of steps which is aexponential function of the size of the problem.

For example, if you have to check every number of n digits tofind a solution, the complexity is O(10^n), and if you addan extra digit, you must check ten times as many numbers.

Even if such an algorithm is practical for some given value ofn, it is likely to become impractical for larger values. Thisis in contrast to a polynomial-time algorithm which growsmore slowly.

See also computational complexity, polynomial-time,NP-complete.