Sorting Algorithms Questions Medium
The bead sort algorithm, also known as gravity sort, is a sorting algorithm that operates on a set of positive integers. It is a non-comparison based algorithm that utilizes the concept of gravity to sort the elements.
The algorithm works by representing each integer as a series of beads on a set of vertical rods. The rods are initially empty, and each rod represents a digit position in the numbers being sorted. The number of rods required is equal to the maximum value in the input set.
To perform the sorting, the algorithm iterates through each number in the input set. For each number, it places a corresponding number of beads on the rods. The beads are placed from the top, simulating the effect of gravity. As the beads fall, they settle into their respective positions based on the value of the digit they represent.
Once all the numbers have been processed, the algorithm reads the sorted values from the rods by counting the number of beads in each position. The sorted values are then collected and returned as the final sorted output.
The bead sort algorithm has a time complexity of O(nk), where n is the number of elements in the input set and k is the maximum value in the set. It is a relatively simple algorithm to implement and can efficiently sort sets of positive integers. However, it is not suitable for sorting sets with negative numbers or floating-point values.