10. Worst, Average, and Best Case Scenarios

Big O notation typically focuses on the Worst Case because it guarantees the maximum time an algorithm might take.

1. Worst Case (Big O)

This is the scenario that requires the maximum number of operations. It is the most critical metric for system reliability.

• Example: In Linear Search, the worst case is when the item you are searching for is the very last element in the list, or not present at all.

2. Best Case (Big Omega - Ω)

This is the scenario that requires the minimum number of operations.

• Example: In Linear Search, the best case is when the item you are searching for is the first element in the list (O(1)).

3. Average Case (Big Theta - Θ)

This describes the typical running time when considering all possible inputs and their likelihood. This is often the most complex to calculate but provides a realistic estimate of daily performance.