Searching Algorithms Questions Long
Ternary search is a searching algorithm that is used to find the position of a specific value within a sorted array. It is an extension of the binary search algorithm, which divides the array into two equal parts. However, in ternary search, the array is divided into three parts.
The concept of ternary search involves repeatedly dividing the array into three parts and determining which part the desired value may be located in. The array is initially divided into two midpoints, which are calculated as low + (high - low) / 3 and low + 2 * (high - low) / 3. These midpoints divide the array into three equal-sized parts.
The algorithm then compares the desired value with the elements at the two midpoints. If the value is found at either of the midpoints, the search is successful and the index of the value is returned. If the value is smaller than the element at the first midpoint, the search is performed on the first part of the array. If the value is larger than the element at the second midpoint, the search is performed on the third part of the array. This process is repeated recursively until the value is found or the search space is exhausted.
Ternary search has a time complexity of O(log3 n), which is slightly better than binary search's time complexity of O(log2 n). However, the improvement in time complexity is not significant for small arrays. Ternary search is most effective when the array is large and the desired value is located towards the beginning or end of the array.
It is important to note that the array must be sorted in ascending order for ternary search to work correctly. If the array is not sorted, the algorithm may produce incorrect results.
In conclusion, ternary search is a searching algorithm that divides the array into three parts and recursively searches for a specific value. It is an extension of binary search and is most effective for large sorted arrays.