Common Mistakes Year 7 Students Make with Time Complexity

1. Getting Confused About Big O Notation
   Sometimes, students mix up constant factors with growth rates. They think $O(2n)$ is different from $O(n)$, which can make things more complicated than they need to be.

2. Ignoring Input Size
   Students might not pay attention to how algorithms work when the input size gets bigger. This can lead to wrong conclusions about how efficient something is.

3. Overgeneralizing
   It’s easy to make the mistake of applying one specific case of an algorithm’s complexity to every situation. This means they might miss important details.

How to Fix These Problems

• Practice Simplifying: Work on simplifying expressions regularly.
• Use Visual Aids: Look at graphs to see how performance changes with different input sizes.
• Have Group Discussions: Talking with others can help clear up any confusion.