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  • $\begingroup$ See the comments on this answer for a little background - my respect to @corsiKa for so bravely asking such a contentious question. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 15, 2014 at 23:25
  • $\begingroup$ @OldCurmudgeon, I see. I would hate to wade into that comment thread. Oldcurmudgeon, are you arguing over big-O notation without understanding big-O notation? Awkward indeed. Also, you and corsiKa are arguing over running time without defining the parameters $n$ and $m$ -- a recipe for miscommunication. Hint: one common convention when dealing with strings is to agree to use $m$ to use the length of one string and $n$ for the length of another string -- but ideally it's probably best to make this explicit, because otherwise it can cause confusion (as illustrated here). $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 15, 2014 at 23:40
  • $\begingroup$ @D.W. It's possible that OldCurmudgeon simply learned a different definition in school... as I point out in a comment below, it's possible to eschew multiple variables, though I've never really thought about doing it until now. Maybe this - or something like it - used to be standard? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 6:34
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    $\begingroup$ I think this has sufficient answers here and here. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 16, 2014 at 8:22
  • $\begingroup$ related: cs.stackexchange.com/questions/105280/… and math.stackexchange.com/questions/353461/… $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 23, 2022 at 17:30