Question

Using a linear search to find a value that is stored in the last element of an array of 20,000 elements, ________ element(s) must be compared.

A) 20,000
B) only the first
C) only half
D) 2000
E) None of these

Answer 1

In a linear search for a value in the last position of a 20,000 element array, all 20,000 elements must be compared.

Step-by-step explanation:

When using a linear search algorithm to find a value in an array, the algorithm sequentially checks each element of the array until the desired value is found or the list ends. If the value to be found is stored in the last element of an array, the algorithm must compare each element one by one starting from the first. Therefore, if the array consists of 20,000 elements and the value is at the last position, the linear search would have to make 20,000 comparisons to find that value.