FIT 100
© Copyright University of
Washington 1999-2000
Algorithm Analysis
vUnderstanding the
problem
;Inputs: The end points, (lo, hi), of
an ordered sequence
Answers to
an series of questions
;Outputs: A selected
item
;How the inputs are transformed
to the outputs:
A series of questions is posed
of the form
Is the desired item after item x?
so that the xth item is chosen to be midway in the interval
If the reply is yes,
the new interval (next after x, hi)
If the reply is no, the
new interval is (lo, x)
The output is the item when the interval
contains only a single item