[tomc1985]

Huh? n-squared is an exponent

[whycombagator]

Sure, but for something to be considered exponential running time it must be <some-constant>^n.

So 2^n would be exponential. However, n^2 is instead quadratic.

Quadratic time complexity is better than exponential.

Here is a useful comparison of the rate of growth for various time complexities[0]

[0] https://stackoverflow.com/a/34517541/3574076

[dgb23]

Quadratic in this specific case, or more generally: polynomial.

[connor4312]

Exponential refers to c^N. N^c is quadratic. Small visualization: https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/image-files/exponential-q...

[Akangka]

We call that polynomial, not quadratic.

[TomMarius]

Both is right, quadratic being subset of polynomial.

[mrits]

It doesn't help that most people in journalism use the phrase exponential growth to describe quadratic growth.

[brokensegue]

we call that "quadratic". exponential is when the exponent is variable. (unless I'm being whooshed)

[mabbo]

No, you're 100% correct.

O(n^[number]) = polynomial, with O(n^2) being quadratic.

O([a number]^n) = exponential.

I guess the authors aren't big on CS fundamentals?

[tomc1985]

Indeed. It's been a while since I've had to so much as think about big O notation and I forgot that quirk. To most folks "exponential" means n^2 or greater

[recursive]

Most folks are using the word wrong then.

[derefr]

“Superlinear” is the word you’re looking for.

[Monory]

Superlinear can mean O(n log n) or anything like that, which is smaller than O(n^2).

[toby]

n^0 is also an exponent. Do you consider constant time to be exponential growth?

[tomc1985]

When family talks to me about covid spreading exponentially I am pretty sure they mean n times n, or n^2

Yes we all know the technical definitions with respect to software and algorithmic complexity. But the lack of sympathy/empathy on display with how a common definition of a word can be misconstrued by someone without an academic background in tech is kind of surprising (ok well maybe not so surprising but c'mon folks, we are all human)

[brokensegue]

disease spread when modeled is actually exponential.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_reproduction_number#Esti...