Why it matters

Potential method is elegant technique. Understanding shapes analysis.

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The architecture

Choose phi mapping states to reals.

Amortized = actual + phi' - phi.

Total actual = total amortized + phi_0 - phi_n.

Potential method flowPotential phistate → realAmortizedactual + delta phiTelescopingsum bounds totalStandard for Fibonacci heap + splay trees + dynamic arrays
Potential method.
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How it works end to end

Bounds total = amortized + phi_0 - phi_n.

Choose phi to smooth expensive ops.

Standard for many DS.