FAQ: Radix Sort: Python - Finding the Max Exponent

This community-built FAQ covers the “Finding the Max Exponent” exercise from the lesson “Radix Sort: Python”.

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This exercise can be found in the following Codecademy content:

Sorting Algorithms

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For the radix sort function, when we use max() function to find the maximum number, what is the time complexity which will be added to the overall radix_sort performance?

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max() only has to go through a list once to arrive at a conclusive value. The time complexity would be that of iterating a list. Consider whether this is added to the coefficient or the expression to determine if it affects overall time complexity. If it is done repeatedly then N^2.

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Since we are implementing radix_sort recursively the max() will be called at every step, so can we consider this will add N^2 to the overall performance?

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Recursion could mean a heck of a lot of iterations. What is the mathematical expression for that?

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