patternMinor
If f(n) = O(g(n)), then is log(f(n)) = O(log(g(n)))?
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Problem
I guess this is true, because log is a strictly increasing function, but how do I prove it formally?
I tried something like:
Let $f(n)$ and $g(n)$ be monotonically increasing functions, $c \in \mathbb{R}$ and $n_0 \in \mathbb{N}$, such that $0 \leq f(n) \leq c g(n)$, for all $n \geq n_0$. We must find $c'$ and $n_0'$ such that $$\log(f(n)) \in \{h(n) \mid 0 \leq h(n) \leq c' \log(g(n)), \forall n \geq n_0'\}\,.$$
I got as far as
$$f(n) \leq c g(n) \implies \log(f(n)) \leq \log(c g(n)) = \log(c) + \log(g(n))\,.$$
Then I got stuck.
Thanks in advance!
I tried something like:
Let $f(n)$ and $g(n)$ be monotonically increasing functions, $c \in \mathbb{R}$ and $n_0 \in \mathbb{N}$, such that $0 \leq f(n) \leq c g(n)$, for all $n \geq n_0$. We must find $c'$ and $n_0'$ such that $$\log(f(n)) \in \{h(n) \mid 0 \leq h(n) \leq c' \log(g(n)), \forall n \geq n_0'\}\,.$$
I got as far as
$$f(n) \leq c g(n) \implies \log(f(n)) \leq \log(c g(n)) = \log(c) + \log(g(n))\,.$$
Then I got stuck.
Thanks in advance!
Solution
You need to find a number $n'_0,c'$ such that
$$\log(c) + \log(g(n)) \le c' \log(g(n)) \text{ for all $n \ge n'_0$,}$$
and such that $n'_0 \ge n_0$.
So, see what you can find. Note that it's ok for $n'_0,c'$ to depend on $c$ and on $g(\cdot)$.
Hint: If you can find $n'_0,c'$ such that $\log(c) \le \log(g(n'_0))$, does anything good happen? Can you find such a $n'_0,c'$?
$$\log(c) + \log(g(n)) \le c' \log(g(n)) \text{ for all $n \ge n'_0$,}$$
and such that $n'_0 \ge n_0$.
So, see what you can find. Note that it's ok for $n'_0,c'$ to depend on $c$ and on $g(\cdot)$.
Hint: If you can find $n'_0,c'$ such that $\log(c) \le \log(g(n'_0))$, does anything good happen? Can you find such a $n'_0,c'$?
Context
StackExchange Computer Science Q#42764, answer score: 2
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