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Chapter 18: Problem 4

Describe two operations that all stacks perform.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The two basic operations that all stacks perform are the push and pop operations. The push operation is used to add elements to the top of the stack, ensuring that the most recently added element is on top and removed before other elements. The pop operation is used to remove elements from the top of the stack, following the Last In First Out (LIFO) order. These operations work together to maintain the LIFO principle of a stack.

Step by step solution

01

1. Understand Stacks

A stack is a linear data structure which follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) order for performing operations. In simple terms, it means the element that is inserted last into the stack is removed first. Think of a stack as a collection of items, like a stack of cafeteria trays, where you can only add or remove items from the top.
02

2. Push Operation

The first operation that all stacks perform is pushing, which is the process of adding an element to the top of the stack. When an element is added to the stack, the previous top element of the stack is moved down one position. This operation follows the LIFO order, ensuring that the most recently added element is on top and removed before any other elements.
03

3. Pop Operation

The second operation that all stacks perform is popping, which is the process of removing an element from the top of the stack. When the top element is popped from the stack, it is removed, and the element just below it becomes the new top element. The pop operation is the reverse of the push operation and ensures that the elements are removed in the LIFO order. In summary, a stack follows the LIFO principle where the push operation is used to add elements to the stack, and the pop operation is used to remove elements from the stack. These are the two basic operations that all stacks perform.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A common real-life example used to explain stacks is the stack of plates in a cafeteria. Find at least two other real-life examples in which items are added and removed from a container in last-in-first-out order, and use these examples to explain the concept of a stack.

What does FIFO mean?

Describe two operations that all queues perform.

What problem is overcome by using a circular array for a static queue?

When an element is added to a queue, where is it added?
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