GATE - 2008

Question

https://gateoverflow.in/394/gate2008-84

Here option A also leads to infinite loop right?

it gets stuch at index 8

because 8 + 9 / 2 = 8

it never reaches 9

Comments

You are true it never reaches to index 9.

But there is no need to reach index 9.

because number at index 9 is 10.

and condition is given that x <10.

Hence x must be upto 9 only.

And for digit 9 it clearly stops at index 8.

Hence in option A it doesn't fail.

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@ashwin

what if the element we are searching is 9 ?

it gets stuck over the element 8

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If we are searching for 9 it gets stuck at index 8 where 9 is present! Indexing starts from 0 to 9 in this example.

so while searching digit 9, algorithm can stop at index 8

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@ashwin

sorry i meant OPTION B actually

what if the element we are searching x=0

then it keeps iterating in an infinite loop right ?

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In option B assume x =0.

then while searching for 0

initially k = 9/2 = 4

j=k

again k = 2

j=k

again k =1

j=k

again k=0

j=k here i=j also and hence won't go into infinite loop

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@ashwin got it :)

i was considering 1 / 2 as 1 by mistake  :P

like solving mod