So I've encountered a case where I have 2 recursive calls - rather than one. I do know how to solve for one recursive call, but in this case I'm not sure whether I'm right or wrong.
I have the following problem:
T(n) = T(2n/5) + T(3n/5) + n
And I need to find the worst-case complexity for this.
(FYI - It's some kind of augmented merge sort)
My feeling was to use the first equation from the Theorem, but I feel something is wrong with my idea. Any explanation on how to solve problems like this will be appreciated :)
The recursion tree for the given recursion will look like this:
Size Cost
n n
/ \
2n/5 3n/5 n
/ \ / \
4n/25 6n/25 6n/25 9n/25 n
and so on till size of input becomes 1
The longes simple path from root to a leaf would be n-> 3/5n -> (3/5) ^2 n .. till 1
Therefore let us assume the height of tree = k
((3/5) ^ k )*n = 1 meaning k = log to the base 5/3 of n
In worst case we expect that every level gives a cost of n and hence
Total Cost = n * (log to the base 5/3 of n)
However we must keep one thing in mind that ,our tree is not complete and therefore
some levels near the bottom would be partially complete.
But in asymptotic analysis we ignore such intricate details.
Hence in worst Case Cost = n * (log to the base 5/3 of n)
which is O( n * log n )
Now, let us verify this using substitution method:
T(n) = O( n * log n) iff T(n) < = dnlog(n) for some d>0
Assuming this to be true:
T(n) = T(2n/5) + T(3n/5) + n
<= d(2n/5)log(2n/5) + d(3n/5)log(3n/5) + n
= d*2n/5(log n - log 5/2 ) + d*3n/5(log n - log 5/3) + n
= dnlog n - d(2n/5)log 5/2 - d(3n/5)log 5/3 + n
= dnlog n - dn( 2/5(log 5/2) - 3/5(log 5/3)) + n
<= dnlog n
as long as d >= 1/( 2/5(log 5/2) - 3/5(log 5/3) )