Question

Suppose we are sorting an array of ten integers using a quadratic sorting algorithm. After four iterations of the algorithm's main loop, the array elements are ordered as shown here: 1 2 3 4 5 0 6 7 8 9. Which statement is correct?

a. The sorting algorithm is bubble sort.
b. The array is already sorted.
c. The array is sorted in descending order.
d. The sorting algorithm is selection sort.

Answer 1

The pattern where the first five elements are sorted, but there is an out of place '0' followed by sorted elements, suggests that the sorting algorithm is likely bubble sort. The array is not fully sorted, nor is it sorted in descending order. Therefore, option a, indicating bubble sort, is the correct statement.

Step-by-step explanation:

After four iterations of a quadratic sorting algorithm, we observe that the first five elements of the array (1 2 3 4 5) are sorted correctly relative to each other, but there is a '0' that is out of place, followed by 6 7 8 9, which are also sorted relative to each other. This pattern may suggest that the sorting algorithm is bubble sort. In bubble sort, each iteration of the main loop causes the next largest unsorted element to 'bubble up' to its correct position in the sorted portion of the array. Considering this, the '0' is likely to be moved into its correct place in the next iteration. Options b and c are incorrect because the array is clearly not fully sorted, nor is it sorted in descending order. Option d is unlikely because in a selection sort after four iterations, the first four elements would be placed in their final sorted position, and that is not the case here as the '0' is out of place with respect to the first four elements.