If the array has 16 elements, how many comparisons will binary search make in th

Practice Questions

Q1
If the array has 16 elements, how many comparisons will binary search make in the worst case?
  1. 4
  2. 5
  3. 16
  4. 8

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

If the array has 16 elements, how many comparisons will binary search make in the worst case?
  • Step 1: Understand that binary search works on a sorted array.
  • Step 2: Know that binary search divides the array in half with each comparison.
  • Step 3: Identify the number of elements in the array, which is 16.
  • Step 4: Use the formula for the worst-case number of comparisons in binary search, which is log2(n), where n is the number of elements.
  • Step 5: Calculate log2(16). Since 16 is 2 raised to the power of 4 (2^4 = 16), log2(16) equals 4.
  • Step 6: Conclude that in the worst case, binary search will make 4 comparisons.
  • Binary Search – A search algorithm that finds the position of a target value within a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half.
  • Logarithmic Complexity – Binary search operates in O(log n) time complexity, meaning the number of comparisons grows logarithmically with the number of elements.
Soulshift Feedback ×

On a scale of 0–10, how likely are you to recommend The Soulshift Academy?

Not likely Very likely