Question

If a linear search function is searching for a value that is stored in the last element of a 10,000-element array, how many elements will the search code have to read to locate the value?

   If a linear search function is searching for a value that is stored in the last element of a 10,000-element array, how many elements will the search code have to read to locate the value?

Starting out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects

Starting out with C++: From Control Structures through Objects

Tony Gaddis 10th Edition

Chapter 8, Problem 2

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A linear search function checks each element of the array one by one until it finds the target value or reaches the end of the array. Show more…

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If a linear search function is searching for a value that is stored in the last element of a 10,000-element array, how many elements will the search code have to read to locate the value?

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Key Concepts

Linear Search

Linear search is an algorithm that checks each element of an array sequentially until the desired element is found or the end of the array is reached. This method does not require the array to be sorted and is simple to implement, but it can be inefficient when dealing with large data sets.

Worst-Case Scenario

In the worst-case scenario for a linear search, the value being searched for is located at the very end of the array or is not present at all. This means that every single element in the array must be examined before concluding the search, leading to maximum computation time.

Time Complexity

The time complexity of a linear search is O(n), where n is the number of elements in the array. This notation indicates that the search effort grows linearly with the size of the array, and in the worst-case scenario, all n elements are checked, such as when the target is at the last position.

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