Exponential time

Written mathematically, there exists k > 1 such that m(n) = θ(kⁿ) and there exists c such that m(n) = O(cⁿ).

Mathematicians sometimes think of polynomial time as "fast", and anything slower than that as "slow". Exponential time would therefore be considered slow. There are algorithms which take time slower than polynomial time ("super-polynomial time") but faster than exponential time ("sub-exponential time"). These are also considered "slow". One example is the best known algorithm for integer factorization.

See also:

• Computational complexity theory
• Polynomial time
• Algorithm
• Big O notation