In binary search, the array must be _______ to ensure correct results.
- Reversed
- Shuffled
- Sorted
- Unsorted
In binary search, the array must be sorted to ensure correct results. Binary search relies on the property of a sorted array to efficiently eliminate half of the remaining elements in each step.
Prim's algorithm typically performs better on graphs with _______ edges, while Kruskal's algorithm is more efficient on graphs with _______ edges.
- Acyclic, Cyclic
- Cyclic, Acyclic
- Dense, Sparse
- Sparse, Dense
Prim's algorithm typically performs better on graphs with sparse edges, where only a small number of edges exist. In contrast, Kruskal's algorithm is more efficient on graphs with dense edges, where a large number of edges are present. This is because the priority queue operations in Prim's algorithm are generally faster on sparse graphs.
The space complexity of radix sort is _______ compared to other sorting algorithms like merge sort and quick sort.
- O(1)
- O(n log n)
- O(n)
- O(n^2)
The space complexity of radix sort is O(1), indicating that it has a constant space requirement, making it more memory-efficient compared to other sorting algorithms like merge sort and quicksort.
What is the primary purpose of using a hash table?
- Efficient data retrieval by mapping keys to values using a hash function.
- Performing matrix operations.
- Sorting elements in ascending order.
- Storing elements in a linked list.
The primary purpose of using a hash table is to achieve efficient data retrieval by mapping keys to values using a hash function. This allows for constant-time average-case complexity for basic operations like insertion, deletion, and search.
Imagine you need to implement a program that simulates a tic-tac-toe game board. How would you use arrays to represent the game board efficiently?
- Implement separate arrays for each row, column, and diagonal.
- Use a 1D array and perform arithmetic calculations for efficient indexing.
- Use a 2D array to represent the grid of the tic-tac-toe board.
- Utilize a linked list for efficient representation.
To efficiently represent a tic-tac-toe game board, a 2D array is commonly used. Each element of the array corresponds to a cell on the board, providing a straightforward and efficient way to simulate the grid.
In which pattern matching algorithm is a prefix table or failure function used to optimize the search process?
- Boyer-Moore Algorithm
- Brute Force Algorithm
- Knuth-Morris-Pratt Algorithm
- Rabin-Karp Algorithm
The Knuth-Morris-Pratt Algorithm uses a prefix table or failure function to optimize the search process. This allows the algorithm to skip unnecessary comparisons by taking advantage of the information about the pattern's own structure.
How does the Edit Distance algorithm handle cases where the two strings have different lengths?
- It automatically pads the shorter string with extra characters to make them equal in length.
- It handles different lengths by introducing additional operations such as insertion or deletion.
- It raises an error since the strings must have the same length.
- It truncates the longer string to match the length of the shorter string.
The Edit Distance algorithm handles cases with different lengths by introducing additional operations (insertion or deletion) to account for the difference, ensuring a comprehensive comparison between the two strings.
How can you handle deletions efficiently in a hash table while maintaining performance?
- Deleting the element and shifting all subsequent elements one position to the left.
- Marking the deleted elements as "deleted" and skipping them during searches.
- Relocating all elements in the table to fill the gap left by the deleted element.
- Simply removing the element from the hash table and leaving the space empty.
Efficient deletion in a hash table involves marking the deleted elements as "deleted" and skipping them during searches. This approach prevents disruptions in the hash table's structure and maintains performance by avoiding unnecessary shifting or relocating of elements.
How does the Rabin-Karp algorithm handle potential spurious matches?
- It adjusts the length of the search window dynamically to avoid spurious matches.
- It ignores potential spurious matches and relies on a post-processing step to filter them out.
- It rehashes the entire text for each potential match to verify its accuracy.
- It uses a rolling hash function to efficiently update the hash value of the current window.
The Rabin-Karp algorithm handles potential spurious matches by using a rolling hash function. This allows it to efficiently update the hash value of the current window in constant time, reducing the likelihood of false positives.
Explain the concept of a circular linked list and its advantages/disadvantages compared to a linear linked list.
- A circular linked list is a linear data structure with no advantages or disadvantages compared to a linear linked list.
- A circular linked list is a type of linked list where the last node points back to the first node, forming a loop. Advantages include constant-time insertions and deletions, while disadvantages include increased complexity and the risk of infinite loops.
- A circular linked list is less memory-efficient than a linear linked list.
- A circular linked list is used exclusively for traversing elements in a circular fashion.
A circular linked list is a type of linked list where the last node points back to the first node, forming a loop. Advantages include constant-time insertions and deletions, but disadvantages include increased complexity and the risk of infinite loops when traversing.