Algorithmic Strategies

Text Book BackQuestions and Answers

PART – I
I. Choose The Best Answer

Question 1.
The word comes from the name of a Persian mathematician Abu Jafar Mohammed ibn – i Musa al
Khowarizmi is called?
(a) Flow chart
(b) Flow
(c) Algorithm
(d) Syntax
Answer:
(c) Algorithm

Question 2.
From the following sorting algorithms which algorithm needs the minimum number of swaps?
(a) Bubble sort
(b) Quick sort
(c) Merge sort
(d) Selection sort
Answer:
(d) Selection sort

Question 3.
Two main measures for the efficiency of an algorithm are ……………………………
(a) Processor and memory
(b) Complexity and capacity
(c) Time and space
(d) Data and space
Answer:
(c) Time and space

Question 4.
The complexity of linear search algorithm is ……………………………
(a) O(n)
(b) O(log n)
(c) O(n2)
(d) O(n log n)
Answer:
(a) O(n)
Question 5.
From the following sorting algorithms which has the lowest worst case complexity?
(a) Bubble sort
(b) Quick sort
(c) Merge sort
(d) Selection sort
Answer:
(c) Merge sort

Question 6.
Which of the following is not a stable sorting algorithm?
(a) Insertion sort
(b) Selection sort
(c) Bubble sort
(d) Merge sort
Answer:
(b) Selection sort

Question 7.
Time complexity of bubble sort in best case is ……………………………
(a) θ(n)
(b) θ(n log n)
(c) θ(n2)
(d) θ(n(logn) 2)
Answer:
(a) θ(n)

Question 8.
The Θ notation in asymptotic evaluation represents
(a) Base case
(b) Average case
(c) Worst case
(d) NULL case
Answer:
(b) Average case

Question 9.
If a problem can be broken into subproblems which are reused several times, the problem possesses which
property?
Answer:
(a) Overlapping subproblems
(b) Optimal substructure
(c) Memoization
(d) Greedy
Answer:
(a) Overlapping subproblems
Question 10.
In dynamic programming, the technique of storing the previously calculated values is called?
(a) Saving value property
(b) Storing value property
(c) Memoization
(d) Mapping
Answer:
(c) Memoization

PART – II
II. Answer The Following Questions

Question 1.
What is an Algorithm?
Answer:
An algorithm is a finite set of instructions to accomplish a particular task. It is a step-by-step procedure for
solving a given problem. An algorithm can be implemented in any suitable programming language.

Question 2.
Define Pseudo code?
Answer:

1. Pseudo code is a mix of programming – language – like constructs and Plain English.
2. Pseudo code is a notation similar to programming languages. Algorithms expressed in pseudo code
are not intended to be executed by computers, but for communication among people.

Question 3.
Who is an Algorist?
Answer:

1. A person skilled in the design of algorithms are called as Algorist.

2. An algorithmic artist.

Question 4.
What is Sorting?
Answer:
Sorting is a method of arranging group of items in an ascending or descending order. Various sorting
techniques in algorithms are Bubble Sort, Quick Sort, Heap Sort, Selection Sort, Insertion Sort.
Question 5.
What is searching? Write its types?
Answer:
A search algorithm is the step-by-step procedure used to locate specific data among a collection of data.
Types of searching algorithms are

1. Linear search
2. Binary search
3. Hash search
4. Binary Tree search
PART – III
III. Answer The Following Questions

Question 1.
List the characteristics of an algorithm?
Answer:
Input, Output, Finiteness, Definiteness, Effectiveness, Correctness, Simplicity, Unambiguous, Feasibility,
Portable and Independent.

Question 2.
Discuss about Algorithmic complexity and its types?
Answer:
The complexity of an algorithm f(n) gives the running time and/or the storage space required by the
algorithm in terms of n as the size of input data.

Time Complexity:
The Time complexity of an algorithm is given by the number of steps taken by the algorithm to complete
the process.

Space Complexity:
Space complexity of an algorithm is the amount of memory required to run to its completion.

Question 3.
What are the factors that influence time and space complexity?
Answer:
Time Complexity:
The Time complexity of an algorithm is given by the number of steps taken by the algorithm to complete
the process.

Space Complexity:
Space complexity of an algorithm is the amount of memory required to run to its completion. The space
required by an algorithm is equal to the sum of the following two components:

A fixed part is defined as the total space required to store certain data and variables for an algorithm. For
example, simple variables and constants used in an algorithm. A variable part is defined as the total space
required by variables, which sizes depends on the problem and its iteration. For example: recursion used
to calculate factorial of a given value n.
Question 4.
Write a note on Asymptotic notation?
Answer:
Asymptotic Notations:
Asymptotic Notations are languages that uses meaningful statements about time and space complexity.

(I) Big O
Big O is often used to describe the worst – case of an algorithm.

(II) Big Ω
Big Omega is the reverse Big O, if Bi O is used to describe the upper bound (worst – case) of a asymptotic
function, Big Omega is used to describe the lower bound (best-case).

(III) Big Θ
When an algorithm has a complexity with lower bound = upper bound, say that an algorithm has a
complexity O (n log n) and Ω (n log n), it’s actually has the complexity Θ (n log n), which means the
running time of that algorithm always falls in n log n in the best – case and worst – case.

Question 5.
What do you understand by Dynamic programming?
Answer:
Dynamic programming is an algorithmic design method that can be used when the solution to a problem
can be viewed as the result of a sequence of decisions. Dynamic programming approach is similar to
divide and conquer. The given problem is divided into smaller and yet smaller possible sub – problems.

PART – IV
IV. Answer The Following Questions

Question 1.
Explain the characteristics of an algorithm?
Answer:

1. Input – Zero or more quantities to be supplied.

2. Output – At least one quantity is produced.
3. Finiteness – Algorithms must terminate after finite number of steps.
4. Definiteness – All operations should be well defined. For example operations involving division by
zero or taking square root for negative number are unacceptable.
5. Effectiveness – Every instruction must be carried out effectively.
6. Correctness – The algorithms should be error free.
7. Simplicity – Easy to implement.
8. Unambiguous – Algorithm should be clear and unambiguous. Each of its steps and their
inputs/outputs should be clear and must lead to only one meaning.
9. Feasibility – Should be feasible with the available resources.
 10. Portable – An algorithm should be generic, independent of any programming language or an
operating system able to handle all range of inputs.
11. Independent – An algorithm should have step-by-step directions, which should be independent of
any programming code.

Question 2.
Discuss about Linear search algorithm.?
Answer:
Linear Search:
Linear search also called sequential search is a sequential method for finding a particular value in a list.
This method checks the search element with each element in sequence until the desired element is found
or the list is exhausted. In this searching algorithm, list need not be ordered.

Pseudo code:
(I) Traverse the array using for loop
(II) In every iteration, compare the target search key value with the current value of the list.

1. If the values match, display the current index and value of the array
2. If the values do not match, move on to the next array element.

(III) If no match is found, display the search element not found.

To search the number 25 in the array given below, linear search will go step by step in a sequential order
starting from the first element in the given array if the search element is found that index is returned
otherwise the search is continued till the last index of the array. In this example number 25 is found at
index number 3.

Example 1:
Input: values[ ] = {5, 34, 65, 12, 77, 35}
target = 77
Output: 4
Example 2:
Input: values[ ] = {101, 392, 1, 54, 32, 22, 90, 93}
target = 200
Output: -1 (not found)

Question 3.
What is Binary search? Discuss with example?
Answer:
Binary Search:
Binary search also called half – interval search algorithm. It finds the position of a search element within a
sorted array. The binary search algorithm can be done as divide-and-conquer search algorithm and
executes in logarithmic time.
Pseudo code for Binary search:
(I) Start with the middle element:

If the search element is equal to the middle element of the array i.e., the middle value = number of
elements in array/2, then return the index of the middle element.
If not, then compare the middle element with the search value,
If the search element is greater than the number in the middle index, then select the elements to the
right side of the middle index, and go to Step-1.
If the search element is less than the number in the middle index, then select the elements to the left
side f the middle index, and start with Step-1.

(II) When a match is found, display success message with the index of the element matched.
(III) If no match is found for all comparisons, then display unsuccessful message.

Binary Search Working principles:

List of elements in an array must be sorted first for Binary search. The following example describes the
step by step operation of binary search. Consider the following array of elements, the array is being sorted
so it enables to do the binary search algorithm. Let us assume that the search element is 60 and we need to
search the location or index of search element 60 using binary search.

First, we find index of middle element of the array by using this formula:
mid = low + (high – low) / 2
Here it is, 0 + (9 – 0 ) / 2 = 4 (fractional part ignored). So, 4 is the mid value of the array.

Now compare the search element with the value stored at mid value location 4. The value stored at
location or index 4 is 50, which is not match with search element. As the search value 60 is greater than
50.

Now we change our low to mid + 1 and find the new mid value again using the formula, low to mid – 1
mid = low + (high – low) / 2
Our new mid is 7 now. We compare the value stored at location 7 with our target value 31.

The value stored at location or index 7 is not a match with search element, rather it is more than what we
are looking for. So, the search element must be in the lower part from the current mid value location
The search element still not found. Hence, we calculated the mid again by using the formula.
high = mid – 1
mid = low + (high – low) / 2
Now the mid value is 5.

Now we compare the value stored at location 5 with our search element. We found that it is a match.

We can conclude that the search element 60 is found at location or index 5. For example if we take the
search element as 95, For this value this binary search algorithm return unsuccessful result.

Question 4.
Explain the Bubble sort algorithm with example?
Answer:
Bubble sort algorithm:
Bubble sort is a simple sorting algorithm. The algorithm starts at the beginning of the list of values stored
in an array. It compares each pair of adjacent elements and swaps them if they are in the unsorted order.
This comparison and passed to be continued until no swaps are needed, which indicates that the list of
values stored in an array is sorted. The algorithm is a comparison sort, is named for the way smaller
elements “bubble” to the top of the list.

Although the algorithm is simple, it is too slow and less efficient when compared to insertion sort and
other sorting methods. Assume list is an array of n elements. The swap function swaps the values of the
given array elements.

Pseudo code:

1. Start with the fist element i.e., index = 0, compare the current element with the next element of the
array.
2. If the current element is greater than the next element of the array, swap them.
3. If the current element is less than the next or right side of the element, move to the next element. Go
to Step 1 and repeat until end of the index is reached.

Let’s consider an array with values {15, 11, 16, 12, 14, 13} Below, we have a pictorial representation of
how bubble sort will sort the given array.
The above pictorial example is for iteration – 1. Similarly, remaining iteration can be done. The final
iteration will give the sorted array.
At the end of all the iterations we will get the sorted values in an array as given below:

Question 5.
Explain the concept of Dynamic programming with suitable example?
Answer:
Dynamic programming:
Dynamic programming is an algorithmic design method that can be used when the solution to a problem
can be viewed as the result of a sequence of decisions. Dynamic programming approach is similar to
divide and conquer. The given problem is divided into smaller and yet smaller possible sub – problems.

Dynamic programming is used whenever problems can be divided into similar sub-problems, so that their
results can be re-used to complete the process. Dynamic programming approaches are used to find the
solution in optimized way. For every inner sub problem, dynamic algorithm will try to check the results of
the previously solved sub-problems. The solutions of overlapped sub – problems are combined in order to
get the better solution.

Steps to do Dynamic programming:

1. The given problem will be divided into smaller overlapping sub-problems.

2. An optimum solution for the given problem can be achieved by using result of smaller sub –
problem.
3. Dynamic algorithms uses Memoization.

Fibonacci Series – An example:

Fibonacci series generates the subsequent number by adding two previous numbers. Fibonacci series starts
from two numbers – Fib 0 & Fib 1. The initial values of fib 0 & fib 1 can be taken as 0 and 1.
Fibonacci series satisfies he following conditions:
Fibn = Fibn-1 + Fibn-2
Hence, a Fibonacci series for the n value 8 can look like this
Fib8 = 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13

Fibonacci Iterative Algorithm with Dynamic programming approach:

The following example shows a simple Dynamic programming approach for the generation of Fibonacci
series.
Initialize f0 = 0, f1 = 1
step – 1: Print the initial values of Fibonacci f0 and f1
step – 2: Calculate fibanocci fib ← f0 + f1
step – 3: Assign f0 ← f1, f1 ← fib
step – 4: Print the next consecutive value of Fibonacci fib
step – 5: Go to step – 2 and repeat until the specified number of terms generated
For example if we generate fibonacci series up to 10 digits, the algorithm will generate the series as shown
below:
The Fibonacci series is: 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 1 3 2 1 3 4 5 5

Additional Questionsand Answers

PART – I
I. Choose The Best Answer

Question 1.
Which one of the following is not a data structure?
(a) Array
(b) Structures
(c) List, tuples
(d) Database
Answer:
(d) Database

Question 2.
The word Algorithm has come to refer to a method ……………………………
(a) Solve a problem
(b) Insert a data
(c) Delete data
(d) Update data
Answer:
(a) Solve a problem

Question 3.
Which is wrong fact about the algorithm?
(a) It should be feasible
(b) Easy to implement
(c) It should be independent of any programming languages
(d) It should be generic
Answer:
(c) It should be independent of any programming languages

Question 4.
Complete the diagram

Answer:
Process

Question 5.
An algorithm that yields expected output for a valid input is called as ……………………………
Answer:
Algorithmic solution.

Question 6.
Program should be written for the selected language with specific ……………………………
Answer:
Syntax

Question 7.
…………………………… is an expression of algorithm in a programming language.
Answer:
Program

Question 8.
How many different phases are there in the analysis of algorithms and performance evaluations?
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) Many
Answer:
(b) 2
Question 9.
Which one of the following is a theoretical performance analysis of an algorithm?
(a) A posteriori testing
(b) A priori estimates
(c) A preposition
(d) A post preori
Answer:
(b) A priori estimates

Question 10.
…………………………… is called performance measurement.
(a) A posteriori testing
(b) A priori estimates
(c) A preposition
(d) A post preori
Answer:
(a) A posteriori testing

Question 11.
Time is measured by counting the number of key operations like comparisons in the sorting algorithm.
This is called as ……………………………
(a) Space Factor
(b) Key Factor
(c) Priori Factor
(d) Time Factor
Answer:
(d) Time Factor

Question 12.
Which of the following statement is true?
(a) Space Factor is the maximum memory space required by an algorithm
(b) Space Factor is the minimum memory spaces required by an algorithm
Answer:
(a) Space Factor is the maximum memory space required by an algorithm

Question 13.
In space complexity, the space required by an algorithm is equal to the sum of ……………………………
part and …………………………… part.
Answer:
Fixed, Variable

Question 14.
…………………………… is an example for variable part of space complexity.
Answer:
Recursion
Question 15.
A …………………………… or …………………………… trade off is a way of solving in less time by
using more storage space or by solving a given algorithm in very little space by spending more time.
Answer:
Space – timw, time – memory

Question 16.
Which is true related to the efficiency of an algorithm?
(I) Less time, more storage space
(II) More time, very little space
(a) I is correct
(b) II is correct
(c) Both are correct
(d) Both are wrong
Answer:
(c) Both are correct

Question 17.
How many asymptotic notations are used to represent time complexity of an algorithms?
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
Answer:
(c) 3

Question 18.
Which one of the following is not an Asymptotic notations?
(a) Big
(b) Big Θ
(c) Big Ω
(d) Big ⊗
Answer:
(d) Big ⊗

Question 19.
………………………… is the reverse of Big O
(a) Big Ω
(b) Big Θ
(c) Big C
(d) Big ⊗
Answer:
(a) Big Ω

Question 20.
………………………… describes the worst case of an algorithm.
(a) Big Q
(b) Big Θ
(c) Big O
(d) Big C
Answer:
(c) Big O

Question 21.
…………………….. describes the lower bound of an algorithm.
(a) Big Ω
(b) Big Θ
(c) Big O
(d) Big ⊗
Answer:
(a) Big Ω

Question 22.
Which search technique is also called sequential search techniques?
(a) Binary
(b) Binary Tree
(c) Hash
(d) Linear
Answer:
(d) Linear

Question 23.
What value will be returned by the linear search technique if value is not found?
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) -1
(d) +1
Answer:
(c) -1

Question 24.
Which search algorithm is called as Half – Interval search algorithm?
(a) Binary
(b) Binary Tree
(c) Hash
(d) Linear
Answer:
(a) Binary

Question 25.
Which technique is followed by Binary Search algorithm?
(a) Subroutines
(b) Mapping
(c) Divide and conquer
(d) Namespaces
Answer:
(c) Divide and conquer

Question 26.
In Binary Search, if the search element is …………………….. to the middle element of the array, then
index of the middle element is returned.
(a) >
(b) <
(c) =
(d) < >
Answer:
(c) =

Question 27.
In Binary search, if the search element is greater than the number in the middle index, then select the
elements to the side of the middle index.
(a) Right
(b) Left
(c) Middle
(d) Bottom
Answer:
(a) Right

Question 28.
Fill in the box [Formula for Binary Search]

mid = low + (high – low) /

Answer:
2

Question 29.
……………………… is a simple sorting algorithm.
(a) Binary
(b) Bubble
(c) Selection
(d) Insertion
Answer:
(b) Bubble

Question 30.
Which one of the following is not a characteristics of Bubble Sort?
(a) Simple
(b) Too slow
(c) Too fast
(d) Less efficient
Answer:
(c) Too fast

Question 31.
In selection sort, there will be ……………………….. exchange for every pass through the list.
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) 2
(d) 3
Answer:
(b) 1

Question 32.
How many number of passes are used in the Insertion Sort to get the final sorted list?
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) n
(d) n -1
Answer:
(d) n – 1

Question 33.
………………………….. approach is similar to divide and conquer.
Answer:
Dynamic programming

Question 34.
………………………… is an example for dynamic programming approach.
(a) Fibonacci
(b) Prime
(c) Factorial
(d) Odd or Even
Answer:
(a) Fibonacci

Question 35.
Match the following.
(1) Linear search – (i) o(n2)
(2) Binary – (ii) o(n)
(3) Bubble Sort – (iii) o(log n)
(4) Merge Sort – (iv) o(n log n)
(a) 1 – (ii), 2 – (iii), 3 – (i), 4 – (iv)
(b) 1 – (i), 2 – (ii), 3 – (iii), 4 – (iv)
(c) 1 – (iv), 2 – (iii), 3 – (ii), 4 – (i)
(d) 1 – (iv), 2 – (ii), 3 – (i), 4 – (iii)
Answer:
(a) 1 – (ii), 2 – (iii), 3 – (i), 4 – (iv)
Question 36.
Time complexity of bubble sort in worst case is …………………………..
(a) θ(n)
(b) θ(n log n)
(c) θ(n2)
(d) θ(n(log n)2)
Answer:
(c) θ(n2)

Question 37.
The complexity of Merge Sort is …………………………
Answer:
o (n log n)

Question 38.
The complexity of Bubble Sort is …………………………
Answer:
o (n2)

Question 39.
The complexity of Binary search is ……………………….
Answer:
o (log n)

Question 40.
Pick the odd one out.
Merge Sort, Bubble, Binary, Insertion.
Answer:
Binary

PART – II
II. Answer The Following Questions

Question 1.
Define fixed part in the space complexity?
Answer:
A fixed part is defined as the total space required to store certain data and variables for an algorithm. For
example, simple variables and constants used in an algorithm.

Question 2.
What is space – Time Trade off?
Answer:
A space – time or time – memory trade off is a way of solving in less time by using more storage space or
by solving a given algorithm in very little space by spending more time.
PART – III
III. Answer The Following Questions

Question 1.
Design an algorithm to find square of the given number and display the result?
Answer:
Problem: Design an algorithm to find square of the given number and display the result. The algorithm
can be written as:
Step 1 – start the process
Step 2 – get the input x
Step 3 – calculate the square by multiplying the input value ie., square ← x* x
Step 4 – display the result square
Step 5 – stop
Algorithm could be designed to get a solution of a given problem. A problem can be solved in many ways.
Among many algorithms the optimistic one can be taken for implementation.

Question 2.
Differentiate Algorithm and Program?
Answer:
Algorithm:

1. Algorithm helps to solve a given problem logically and it can be contrasted with the program.
2. Algorithm can be categorized based on their implementation methods, design techniques etc.
3. There is no specific rules for algorithm writing but some guidelines should be followed.
4. Algorithm resembles a pseudo code which can be implemented in any language

Program:

1. Program is an expression of algorithm in a programming language.

2. Algorithm can be implemented by structured or object oriented programming approach.
3. Program should be written for the selected language with specific syntax
4. Program is more specific o a programming language

Question 3.
What are the two phases in the Analysis of algorithms and performance evaluation?
Answer:
Analysis of algorithms and performance evaluation can be divided into two different phases:
(a) A Priori estimates: This is a theoretical performance analysis of an algorithm. Efficiency of an
algorithm is measured by assuming the external factors.
(b) A Posteriori testing: This is called performance measurement. In this analysis, actual statistics like
running time and required for the algorithm executions are collected.

Question 4.
Name the factors where the program execution time depends on?
The program execution time depends on:

1. Speed of the machine

2. Compiler and other system Software tools
 3. Operating System
4. Programming language used
5. Volume of data required

Question 5.
Write note on Big Θ?
Answer:
Big Θ
When an algorithm has a complexity with lower bound = upper bound, say that an algorithm has a
complexity O (n log n) and Ω . (n log n), it’s actually has the complexity Θ (n log n), which means the
running time of that algorithm always falls in n log n in the best – case and worst – case.

PART – IV
IV. Answer The Following Questions

Question 1.
Explain Selection Sort?
Answer:
Selection sort
The selection sort is a simple sorting algorithm that improves on the performance of bubble sort by
making only one exchange for every pass through the list. This algorithm will first find the smallest
elements in array and swap it with the element in the first position of an array, then it will find the second
smallest element and swap that element with the element in the second position, and it will continue until
the entire array is sorted in respective order. This algorithm repeatedly selects the next-smallest element
and swaps in into the right place for every pass. Hence it is called selection sort.

Pseudo code:
(I) Start from the first element (i.e.), index – 0, we search the smallest element in the array, and replace it
with the element in the first position.

(II) Now we move on to the second element position, and look for smallest element present in the sub-
array, from starting index to till the last index of sub – array.

(III) Now replace the second smallest identified in step-2 at the second position in the or original array, or
also called first position in the sub array.

(IV) This is repeated, until the array is completely sorted.

Let’s consider an array with values {13, 16, 11, 18, 14, 15}
Below, we have a pictorial representation of how selection sort will sort the given array
In the first pass, the smallest element will be 11, so it will be placed at the first position. After that, next
smallest element will be searched from an array. Now we will get 13 as the smallest, so it will be then
placed at the second position.

Then leaving the first element, next smallest element will be searched, from the remaining elements. We
will get 13 as the smallest, so it will be then placed at the second position. Then leaving 11 and 13 because
they are at the correct position, we will search for the next smallest element from the rest of the elements
and put it at third position and keep doing this until array is sorted.
Finally we will get the sorted array end of the pass as shown above diagram.

Question 2.
Explain Insertion Sort?
Answer:
Insertion Sort
Insertion sort is a simple sorting algorithm. It works by taking elements from the list one by one and
inserting then in their correct position in to a new sorted list. This algorithm builds the final sorted array at
the end. This algorithm uses n-1 number of passes to get the final sorted list as per the previous algorithm
as we have discussed.
Pseudo for Insertion sort
Step 1 – If it is the first element, it is already sorted.
Step 2 – Pick next element
Step 3 – Compare with all elements in the sorted sub-list
Step 4 – Shift all the elements in the sorted sub-list that is greater than the value to be sorted
Step 5 – Insert the value
Step 6 – Repeat until list is sorted
At the end of the pass the insertion sort algorithm gives the sorted output in ascending order as shown
below: