GATE DA 2024 Set 1 — Question 40
Go beyond PYQs with Success TrackerAI-powered personalised practice and doubt support. Unlimited practice on eligible plans; AI usage limits apply.MCQ+2 / -0.67EasyBinary SearchSearching & SortingProgramming, Data Structures & Algorithms
Programming, Data Structures & Algorithms → Searching & Sorting → Binary Search
Last updated
Question
Let denote the maximum number of comparisons made while searching for an entry in a sorted array of size using binary search.Which ONE of the following options is TRUE?
Correct answer
(A) F(n) = F(n/2) + 1
Solution
In binary search, the algorithm compares the target value with the middle element of the array. If they match, the search terminates. If not, the search continues in either the left or right subarray, which has a size of at most . Therefore, the recurrence relation for the maximum number of comparisons is given by:where the accounts for the comparison made at the current step.
Continue learning with Success Tracker
A step still unclear? Work through it with support
Use Success Tracker to ask about the reasoning, then try another GATE DA question to check your understanding.
AI-powered practice· Unlimited practice on eligible plans
- PYQs with solutions
- Attempt available previous-year questions, then compare your reasoning with the worked solution. Coverage varies by stream.
- Practice that adapts
- Choose a topic, work on weaker areas and bookmark questions to revisit. Your attempts feed your progress tracking.
- AI doubt support
- Ask follow-up questions about a step or concept while practising, instead of stopping at the final answer.
Unlimited practice is available on eligible plans. Free practice and AI usage have limits; check the current plan allowances before choosing.
This page stays readable without an account. AI responses can be wrong; check them against the solution and source material.
More questions on Searching & Sorting
2026 Set 1 Q15Consider that the quick sort algorithm is used to sort an array of distinct randomly ordered…2026 Set 1 Q16Consider the given Python program. [code] Which of the following is the correct output of this…2026 Set 1 Q25You are given the following Pre-order and In-order traversals of a Binary Tree T with nodes E, F,…2026 Set 1 Q31Let A be a sorted array containing 1000 distinct integers. You perform a recursive binary search on…2026 Set 1 Q39A recursive function in Python is given. [code] Now, consider the following function call:…