Searching Algorithms Questions
Interpolation search is a searching algorithm that is used to find a specific target value within a sorted array or list of elements. It works by estimating the position of the target value based on the values of the first and last elements in the array. This estimation is done using a formula that takes into account the distribution of the elements in the array.
The algorithm then compares the estimated position with the target value and adjusts the search range accordingly. If the estimated position is greater than the target value, the search range is reduced to the elements before the estimated position. Conversely, if the estimated position is smaller than the target value, the search range is reduced to the elements after the estimated position. This process is repeated until the target value is found or the search range becomes empty.
Interpolation search has a time complexity of O(log log n) on average, making it more efficient than binary search in certain scenarios where the elements are uniformly distributed. However, it may perform poorly if the elements are unevenly distributed or if the array is not sorted.