1. Efficiency of Algorithms February 19th

2. Today • Binary search • Algorithm and analysis • Order-of-magnitude analysis of algorithm efficiency • Review • Sorting • Selection sort

3. Searching a sorted list • Problem: find a target in a sorted list • How can we exploit that the list is sorted, and come up with an algorithm faster than sequential search in the worst case? • How do we search in a phone book? • Can we come up with an algorithm? • Check the middle value • If smaller than target, go right • Otherwise go left

4. Binary search • Get values for list, A1, A2, ….An, n , target • Set start =1, set end = n • Set found = NO • Repeat until ?? • Set m = middle value between start and end • If target = m then • Print target found at position m • Set found = YES • Else if target < Am then end = m-1 Else start = m+1 • If found = NO then print “Not found” • End

5. Efficiency of binary search • What is the best case? • What is the worst case? • Initially the size of the list in n • After the first iteration through the repeat loop, if not found, then either start = m or end = m ==> size of the list on which we search is n/2 • Every time in the repeat loop the size of the list is halved: n, n/2, n/4,…. • How many times can a number be halved before it reaches 1?

6. Orders of magnitude • Order of magnitude ( lg n) • Worst-case efficiency of binary search: ( lg n) • Comparing order of magnitudes (1) << (lg n) << (n) << (n2)

7. Sorting • Problem: sort a list of items into alphabetical or numerical order • Why sorting? • Sorting is ubiquitous (very common)!! • Examples: • Registrar: Sort students by name or by id or by department • Post Office: Sort mail by address • Bank: Sort transactions by time or customer name or accound number … • For simplicity, assume input is a list of n numbers • Ideas for sorting?

8. Selection Sort • Idea: grow a sorted subsection of the list from the back to the front 5 7 2 1 6 4 8 3 | 5 7 2 1 6 4 3 |8 5 2 1 6 4 3 | 7 8 5 2 1 3 4 | 6 7 8 … |1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9. Selection Sort • Pseudocode (at a high level of abstraction) • Get values for n and the list of n items • Set marker for the unsorted section at the end of the list • Repeat until unsorted section is empty • Select the largest number in the unsorted section of the list • Exchange this number with the last number in unsorted section of list • Move the marker of the unsorted section forward one position • End

10. Selection Sort • Level of abstraction • It is easier to start thinking of a problem at a high level of abstraction • Algorithms as building blocks • We can build an algorithm from “parts” consisting of previous algorithms • Selection sort: • Select largest number in the unsorted section of the list • We have seen an algorithm to do this last time • Exchange 2 values

11. Selection Sort Analysis • Iteration 1: • Find largest value in a list of n numbers : n-1 comparisons • Exchange values and move marker • Iteration 2: • Find largest value in a list of n-1 numbers: n-2 comparisons • Exchange values and move marker • Iteration 3: • Find largest value in a list of n-2 numbers: n-3 comparisons • Exchange values and move marker • … • Iteration n: • Find largest value in a list of 1 numbers: 0 comparisons • Exchange values and move marker Total: (n-1) + (n-2) + …. + 2 + 1

12. Selection Sort • Total work (nb of comparisons): • (n-1) + (n-2) + …. + 2 + 1 • This sum is equal to .5n2 -.5n (proved by Gauss) => order of magnitude is ( ? ) • Questions • best-case, worst-case ? • we ignored constants, and counted only comparisons.. Does this make a difference? • Space efficiency • extra space ?

13. Selection Sort • In conclusion: Selection sort • Space efficiency: • No extra space used (except for a few variables) • Time efficiency • There is no best-case and worst-case • the amount of work is the same: (n2) irrespective of the input • Other sorting algorithms? Can we find more efficient sorting algorithms?

14. This week… • Wednesday: Lab 3 • Thursday: Exam 1 • Material: Algorithms • Chapter 1, 2 & 3 from textbook • For next time • Review chapter 1,2 & 3 • Look over practice exam