If an algorithm has a running time of 3N2 + 5N + 10, what is its asymptotic Big-O complexity?

Options

  • A. O(N)
  • B. O(N log N)
  • C. O(N2)
  • D. More than one of the above
  • E. None of the above

Correct Answer (Detailed Explanation is Below)

C. O(N2)

Detailed Explanation

For 3N2 + 5N + 10, the dominant term for large N is N2. In Big-O analysis, constant coefficients and lower-order terms are ignored, so the expression is O(N2). This does not mean the actual running time equals N2; Big-O describes asymptotic growth. Identifying the dominant term is a fundamental technique for analyzing algorithm complexity.