Chapter 8: Problem 1

Why is the linear search also called “sequential search”?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer: The term "Sequential Search" comes from the fact that the linear search algorithm checks each element in the list sequentially (one by one), following the natural order of the list. It does not make any assumptions about the order of the elements or jump to any particular position. The name is attributed to the algorithm's methodology of searching elements one after the other in sequence without making any assumptions about the order of the elements in the list.

Step by step solution

Understand the concept of linear search

Linear search is a search algorithm used to find the position of a target value within a list. It starts with the first element of the list and compares each element with the target value sequentially until a match is found or the end of the list is reached. The linear search algorithm works on both sorted and unsorted lists.

Define the input for the linear search algorithm

Input list: A list or array of values, where we want to search for a target value. Target value: The value we want to find within the list or array.

Examine each element in the list sequentially

Start at the first element in the list and compare it with the target value. If it matches the target value, the search is successful, and the position of the target value is returned. If it does not match the target value, move to the next element and repeat the comparison.

Continue the search until the end of the list

Continue examining elements sequentially, moving from one element to the next, until the end of the list is reached or the target value is found. If the end of the list is reached without finding the target value, the search is unsuccessful, and a "not found" indicator (usually -1) is returned.

Understand the origin of the name "Sequential Search"

The term "Sequential Search" comes from the fact that the algorithm checks each element in the list sequentially (one by one), following the natural order of the list. It does not make any assumptions about the order of the elements or jump to any particular position. In conclusion, the name "Sequential Search" is attributed to the linear search algorithm due to its methodology of searching elements one after the other in sequence without making any assumptions about the order of the elements in the list.

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Why is the linear search also called “sequential search”?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understand the concept of linear search

Define the input for the linear search algorithm

Examine each element in the list sequentially

Continue the search until the end of the list

Understand the origin of the name "Sequential Search"

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