Searching Algorithms Questions Long
The concept of sublinear interpolation search is a searching algorithm that aims to find the position of a target value within a sorted array by estimating its location based on the values at the ends of the array. It is an improvement over linear interpolation search, which uses a linear estimation to guess the position of the target value.
In sublinear interpolation search, the algorithm uses a sublinear estimation to approximate the position of the target value. This estimation is based on the assumption that the elements in the array are uniformly distributed. The algorithm calculates the position of the target value by considering the ratio of the difference between the target value and the first element of the array to the difference between the last element and the first element of the array. This ratio is then multiplied by the size of the array to obtain an estimated position.
Once the estimated position is obtained, the algorithm compares the target value with the element at that position. If the target value is found, the algorithm returns the position. If the target value is smaller, the algorithm updates the last element to be the element at the estimated position and repeats the process. If the target value is larger, the algorithm updates the first element to be the element at the estimated position and repeats the process. This process continues until the target value is found or the search range is reduced to zero.
The advantage of sublinear interpolation search over linear interpolation search is that it provides a more accurate estimation of the target value's position, resulting in fewer iterations and a faster search time. However, it is important to note that sublinear interpolation search requires a sorted array and assumes a uniform distribution of elements, which may not always be the case in real-world scenarios.
In conclusion, sublinear interpolation search is a searching algorithm that uses a sublinear estimation to find the position of a target value within a sorted array. It provides a more accurate estimation compared to linear interpolation search, resulting in faster search times.