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Searching Algorithm BSCE-24008

The document provides a detailed report on searching algorithms, defining them as methods to locate specific values within data structures. It covers two main types: Linear Search, which is simple but slow for large datasets, and Binary Search, which is efficient for sorted data but more complex. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of searching algorithms in discrete structures and suggests improvements for their application.

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8 views5 pages

Searching Algorithm BSCE-24008

The document provides a detailed report on searching algorithms, defining them as methods to locate specific values within data structures. It covers two main types: Linear Search, which is simple but slow for large datasets, and Binary Search, which is efficient for sorted data but more complex. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of searching algorithms in discrete structures and suggests improvements for their application.

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bsce24008
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ayesha Khalid BSCE-24008

DISCRETE STRUCTURES

🔍 Searching Algorithm – Detailed Report (Discrete Structures)


1. Introduction

Searching algorithm ek technique hai jo kisi data set mein specific value ko locate karne ke liye use hoti
hai. Discrete structures mein searching algorithms ka study logical thinking, algorithm analysis, and
mathematical modeling ka hissa hota hai.

2. Definition

A searching algorithm is a method used to find an element (called a "key") within a data structure such
as an array, list, or graph.

TYPES :

1. Linear Search:

🔧 Pseudocode:

function linearSearch(array, target):

for i from 0 to length(array) - 1:

if array[i] == target:

return i

return -1 // Not found

⏱ Time Complexity

Best Case: O(1) (target is first element)

Average Case: O(n)

Worst Case: O(n)

🧠 Computational Complexity

Space Complexity: O(1)

Works for unsorted data.

✅ Advantages

Simple to implement
Works on both sorted and unsorted lists

No preprocessing required

❌ Disadvantages

Very slow for large datasets

Inefficient compared to binary search in sorted arrays

💡 Suggested Improvements

If the data is searched frequently, sort the data and use Binary Search.

Use sentinel linear search to reduce comparison operations.

2. Binary Search:

🔧 Pseudocode

function binarySearch(array, target):

left = 0

right = length(array) - 1

while left <= right:

mid = (left + right) / 2

if array[mid] == target:

return mid

else if array[mid] < target:

left = mid + 1

else:

right = mid - 1

return -1

⏱ Time Complexity

Best Case: O(1) (middle element is target)

Average Case: O(log n)

Worst Case: O(log n)

🧠 Computational Complexity
Space Complexity: O(1) for iterative, O(log n) for recursive

Requires sorted data

✅ Advantages

Very efficient on large sorted datasets

Fewer comparisons compared to linear search

❌ Disadvantages

Only works on sorted arrays

More complex than linear search

💡 Suggested Improvements

Use exponential search or interpolation search for better performance in uniformly


distributed data.

Use ternary search for some unimodal function optimizations.


6. Applications in Discrete Structures

Set Membership Problems

Function Computation

Graph Traversal (e.g., BFS, DFS as advanced search)

Logical Queries (Propositional logic evaluation using search techniques)

🧠 CONCLUSION & GENERAL SUGGESTIONS

Searching algorithms are an essential topic in discrete structures because they combine logic,
algorithm design, and mathematical reasoning. They form the basis of problem-solving in computer
science and have applications in databases, AI, and decision-making systems.

· Unsorted data, small size: Use Linear Search

· Sorted data: Prefer Binary Search

🚀 General Improvements

Use caching/memoization when the same values are searched repeatedly.

· Apply parallel searching in multi-core environments.

· Build search indices for faster access (used in databases and search engines).

· Use data profiling to dynamically select the best algorithm.

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