97.8k views
3 votes
Storage use of a BST vs a linked list and sorted array.

a) BST always uses more memory
b) Linked list always uses more memory
c) Depends on the size and elements
d) Sorted array always uses more memory

User Soltius
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The storage use of a BST, a linked list, and a sorted array depends on the size and elements of the structures. A BST and a linked list use additional memory for pointers, while a sorted array uses memory only for the data. The most memory-efficient structure varies depending on usage context and operations required.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the storage use of different data structures: a Binary Search Tree (BST), a linked list, and a sorted array. The answer to which one uses more memory is c) Depends on the size and elements. A BST typically uses more memory than a sorted array because each node stores additional information, such as pointers to child nodes. However, a linked list also uses additional memory for pointers linking the nodes together. The actual memory usage can vary based on the implementation and the specific elements stored within the structures.
A sorted array is typically more memory-efficient for read-heavy operations where the array size doesn't change often because it only needs to store the actual data without any pointers. On the other hand, a linked list is more memory-intensive due to the storage requirements for the pointers but provides efficient insertion and deletion operations, especially in large datasets. A BST is a compromise between the two, allowing for efficient search operations while still requiring additional memory for node pointers.In conclusion, the most memory-efficient structure can vary based on the context of use. If frequent insertions and deletions are required, a linked list or BST might be favored despite the increased memory usage. If the dataset is mostly static and search operations are common, a sorted array could be preferred for its memory efficiency.

User Pubudu Dodangoda
by
8.1k points