Chapter 16, Problem 1MC

Program Description Answer

The algorithm that processes the array sequentially to compare all the items with the search value referred as “sequential search”.

Hence, the correct answer is option “A”.

Explanation of Solution

Sequential search:

• Linear search or sequential search is the process of searching the particular element in the array one by one until it founds out the searching element.
• Here, it uses the loop iteration to start from the beginning of the array to the last element until it finds out the searching element.
• This searching process continues until the end of the last element until the searching element found from the array.
• If the searching element is not present in the array, then the search process returns the message according to unsuccessful search.

Explanation for incorrect options:

b. Binary search

This is the process that uses divide and conquer strategy to find the specific element of an array. The searching process starts from middle element of the array. If the searching element is less than the middle element then it eliminates the second half of the array and it continues searching with the first half of the array.

Hence, option “B” is wrong.

c. Natural order search

Searching the value from the naturally ordered sequence is referred as natural order search. So, this directly finds out the element without comparing all the elements from the array.

Hence, option “C” is wrong.

d. Selection search

This is the algorithm which initially sorts the array by finding the minimum element from unsorted array and it is placed at the beginning. From this sorted array, the search process is continued to search the element. So, this directly finds out the element without comparing all the elements from the array.

Hence, option “D” is wrong.