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Chapter 8: Problem 2

If a linear search function is searching for a value that is stored in the last element of a 10,000 -element array, how many elements will the search code have to read to locate the value?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: To locate the value stored in the last element of a 10,000-element array, the linear search function will have to read 10,000 elements.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the linear search algorithm

A linear search function works by iterating through an array from beginning to end, comparing each element to the desired value. It stops when it finds the desired value or when it reaches the end of the array.
02

Enumerate the array elements

In a 10,000-element array, the elements are indexed from 1 to 10,000. The given value is stored in the last element, which is the 10,000th element.
03

Count the number of elements the search code has to read

Since the linear search function starts from the first element and the desired value is in the last element, it will have to read through all 10,000 elements to find the value. This includes the last element itself, where the value is stored.
04

State the conclusion

To locate the value stored in the last element of a 10,000-element array, the linear search function will have to read 10,000 elements.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In an average case involving an array of \(\mathrm{N}\) elements, how many times will a linear search function have to read the array to locate a specific value?

Why is the linear search also called "sequential search"?

Complete the following table calculating the average and maximum number of comparisons the linear search will perform, and the maximum number of comparisons the binary search will perform. $$\begin{array}{l|lllll} \hline & 50 & 500 & 10,000 & 100,000 & 10,000,000 \\ \text { Array Size } \rightarrow & \text { Elements } & \text { Elements } & \text { Elements } & \text { Elements } & \text { Elements } \\ \hline \text { Linear Search } & & & & & \\ \begin{array}{l} \text { (Average } \\ \text { Comparisons) } \end{array} & & & & & \\ \hline \text { Linear Search } & & & & & \\ \text { (Maximum } & & & & \\ \text { Comparisons) } & & & & & \\ \hline \text { Binary Search } & & & & & \\ \text { (Maximum } & & & & \\ \text { Comparisons) } & & & & & \\ \hline \end{array}$$

If an array is sorted in ___________ order, the values are stored from lowest to highest.

Why is the bubble sort inefficient for large arrays?
See all solutions

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