worst-case vs average-case analysis

Worst-case analysis looks at the most difficult scenario a computer program might face, estimating how long it could take or how much resources it might need in the hardest situation. Average-case analysis considers typical scenarios, estimating the expected performance over many different possible inputs. In essence, worst-case focuses on the maximum challenge, ensuring reliability under any circumstance, while average-case predicts typical behavior, helping us understand how a program performs most of the time. Both approaches help designers improve efficiency and reliability by understanding different performance perspectives.