What is the difference between interpolation search and exponential search?

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What is the difference between interpolation search and exponential search?

The main difference between interpolation search and exponential search lies in their approach to finding the target element within a sorted array.

Interpolation search is a searching algorithm that uses a mathematical formula to estimate the position of the target element within the array. It calculates the probable position based on the value of the target element and the range of values in the array. This approach allows interpolation search to perform better than linear search, especially when the elements in the array are uniformly distributed.

On the other hand, exponential search is a searching algorithm that works by finding a range in which the target element may exist and then performing a binary search within that range. It starts with a small range and exponentially increases the range until the target element is found or the range exceeds the size of the array. Exponential search is particularly useful when the target element is located towards the beginning of the array.

In summary, interpolation search estimates the position of the target element using a mathematical formula, while exponential search narrows down the search range by exponentially increasing it and then performs a binary search within that range.