A Level Computer Science: Searching Algorithms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of a searching algorithm in computer science?
The primary goal of a searching algorithm is to locate a specific element within a dataset and determine its presence or absence.
Explain the key difference between linear search and binary search.
Linear search iterates through the dataset sequentially, while binary search divides the dataset into halves, efficiently narrowing down the search space based on comparisons.
In which scenarios is linear search more suitable than binary search?
Linear search is more suitable when the dataset is small, unsorted, or when there is a need to find the first occurrence of a target element.
Why does binary search require a sorted dataset?
Binary search relies on the property of a sorted dataset to efficiently eliminate half of the remaining elements in each comparison, reducing the search space logarithmically.
What is the time complexity of binary search, and how does it compare to linear search in terms of efficiency?
Binary search has a time complexity of O(log n), making it more efficient than linear search (O(n)) for large datasets, as it reduces the search space exponentially.