Final answer:
The total number of levels in a worst-case B-tree can be found by considering it has M-1 keys and M children at most per node, with internal nodes minimally filled with M/2 children. We then calculate the height B by summing up the geometric series of nodes at each level until we reach or exceed the total number of nodes N.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the total number of levels in a worst-case B-tree with M as the degree and N as the total number of nodes, we use the properties of a B-tree. A B-tree of degree M can have at most M-1 keys and M children per node. In the worst-case scenario, each node except the root is minimally filled, which means each internal node has " M/2 " children (rounded up if M is odd).
To find the total number of levels, we need to sum this geometric series until we reach or exceed the total number of nodes N. The level, B, at which the sum of this series first exceeds or equals N is the height of the B-tree in the worst-case scenario. Unfortunately, the question does not provide a specific formula or 'picture on page 1', so we cannot calculate the exact number without more information. However, the approach would involve using the properties of geometric series and solving for B.