Question

Required information NOTE This is a mult part question. Once an answer is submitted, you will be unable to return to this part Identify the least number of integer comparisons or best-case performance in the following cases Locate an item in a list of items using a binary search, assuming that is a power of 2? Multiple Choice a. Q(log n) b. On

c. 02 d. 0(2^n)

Answer 1

The best-case performance for a binary search on a list size that is a power of 2 is one comparison, leading to an answer of Option c. O(1).

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is likely asking about the best-case performance of a binary search algorithm when the size of the list is a power of 2. The least number of integer comparisons (best-case performance) required to locate an item in a list of items using a binary search, assuming the list size is a power of 2, is one comparison. This occurs when the item being searched for is exactly in the middle of the list, which is the first place the binary search algorithm checks. Therefore, the least number of comparisons would be O(1), meaning it is constant and does not depend on the size of the list.

The correct answer to the multiple-choice question is Option c. O(1), which represents the best-case scenario where only one comparison is needed.