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Consider the following algorithm for searching for a given number $x$ in an unsorted array $A[1..n]$ having $n$ distinct values:

1. Choose an $i$ at random from $1..n$
2. If $A[i] = x$, then Stop else Goto 1;

Assuming that $x$ is present in $A$, what is the expected number of comparisons made by the algorithm before it terminates?

1. $n$
2. $n-1$
3. $2n$
4. $\frac{n}{2}$
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Notice --> Observe @Arjun sir's answer. Here we will take sum of infinite series. Reason is also mentioned in comment section.

+1

For a list with n items, the best case is when the value is equal to the first element of the list, in which case only one comparison is needed. The worst case is when the value is not in the list (or occurs only once at the end of the list), in which case n comparisons are needed.

If the value being sought occurs k times in the list, and all orderings of the list are equally likely, the expected number of comparisons is

For example, if the value being sought occurs once in the list, and all orderings of the list are equally likely, the expected number of comparisons is

.

However, if it is known that it occurs once, then at most n - 1 comparisons are needed, and the expected number of comparisons is

(for example, for n = 2 this is 1, corresponding to a single if-then-else construct).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_search

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$E(X) = \dfrac{1}{n} + \dfrac{n-1}{n}(E(X) + 1) = n, \frac{1}{n} \text{ for success and repeat on failure.}$
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Geometric distribution ....

Expected number of comparisons $(E) = 1 \times$ Probability of find on first comparison $+ 2 \times$Probability of find on second comparison $+ ... + i \times$ Probability of find on ith comparison $+ ...$

$= 1 \times \frac{1}{n} + 2 \times \frac{n-1}{n^2} + 3 \times \frac{ (n-1)^2}{n^3} + \dots$

$= \frac{1/n} {1 - \frac{n-1}{n} } + \frac{(n-1)/n^2}{\left( {1- \frac{n-1}{n} }\right)^2} \\ \left( \text{Sum to infinity of aritmetico-geometric series with }\\a = \frac{1}{n}, r = \frac{n-1}{n} \text{ and } d = \frac{1}{n} \right) \\= 1 + n - 1 = n$

Or we can also do,

$E= 1 \times \frac{1}{n} + 2 \times \frac{n-1}{n^2} + 3 \times \frac{ (n-1)^2}{n^3} + \dots$

$E \frac{n-1}{n} = \frac{n-1}{n^2} + 2 \times \frac{(n-1)^2}{n^3} + 3 \times \frac{(n-1)^3}{n^4} + \dots$

$E -E\frac{n-1}{n} = \frac{1}{n} + \frac{n-1}{n^2} + \frac{ (n-1)^2}{n^3} + \dots$

$E. \frac{1}{n} = \frac{(1/n)}{1 - \frac{n-1}{n}} = 1 \left( \text{Sum to infinity of GP with } a = \frac{1}{n} \text{ and } r = \frac{n-1}{n} \right) \\ \implies E = n$

edited by
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@Srestha No. It is because the other one is doing linear search whereas here the search algorithm is different; hence the probabilities also change.
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ok

then what this line exactly mean?

$1 \times \frac{1}{n} + 2 \times \frac{n-1}{n^2} + 3 \times \frac{ (n-1)^2}{n^3} + \dots$

1 is here picking the element in 1st attempt and 1/n is we are with only one comparison we are getting the element. rt?

then , $2 \times \frac{n-1}{n^2}$ is picking the element in 2nd attempt and $\frac{n-1}{n^2}$ means with 1/n and (n-1)/n comparison we need to do this? why so?means every time we need to do one comparison first and then (n-1) all comparison next? not clear this part. Could u plz explain?

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same doubt sretha
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@srestha for both questions it is probability only. But here search is not "sequential" and so we cannot evaluate the comparisons based on probabilities assigned to each location. Instead we assign probabilities for each iteration.
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@sushmita

Actually I think here search is linear but not sequential

That is why Arithmetico geometric series used.

And then simply put in formula

t1=ab

t2=(a+d)br

.....................
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@srestha @arjun sir

probability is assigned to each iteration

SO prob of second iteration is (n-1) / n got it...

but how prob of 3rd iteration is (n-1)2 / n
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chk from wiki link given in answer and try to analyze :)
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Probability that there will be 3 comparisons =

P(1st attempt fail) * P(2nd attempt fail)*P(3rd attempt success)

=$(n-1)/n$   * $(n-1)/n$   * $(1/n)$

= ${(n-1)^2/n^3}$

// always we choose from n items so total cases n in denominator and for numerator  in case of failure it can return any one from n-1 items but not the item that we need ,however for success it will return only the item we need.I hope you get it now!!!!

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@rahul

thanku so much :)

canyou also explain how it is expanded using the arithometric formula to get n

what is the formula used
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Multiply the equation in the answer say 1 with the common ratio and get a new equation say 2.

Now subtract 1-2.Try to solve you will get

Why is the third term $2 \times \frac{n-1}{n} \times \frac{1}{n-1}$, and not $2 \times \frac{n-1}{n} \times \frac{1}{n}$

The way I see it, the probability of getting it in 2nd try is: Probability of failing at first trial times probability of succeeding in 2nd trial.

It's not like we are removing one element from the list after the first trial.

Here is my calculation and proof:

Let expected number of comparisons be E. Value of E is the sum of following expression for all the possible cases.

case:

If A[i] is found in the first attempt
number of comparisons = 1
probability of the case  = 1/n

case: 2

If A[i] is found in the second attempt
number of comparisons = 2
probability of the case  = (n-1)/n*1/n

case: 3

If A[i] is found in the third attempt
number of comparisons = 3
probability of the case  = (n-1)/n*(n-1)/n*1/n

There are actually infinite such cases. So, we have following infinite series for E.

E  = 1/n + [(n-1)/n]*[1/n]*2 + [(n-1)/n]*[(n-1)/n]*[1/n]*3 + ….  (1)

After multiplying equation (1) with (n-1)/n, we get

E (n-1)/n = [(n-1)/n]*[1/n] + [(n-1)/n]*[(n-1)/n]*[1/n]*2 +
[(n-1)/n]*[(n-1)/n]*[(n-1)/n]*[1/n]*3 ……….(2)

Subtracting (2) from (1), we get

E/n = 1/n + (n-1)/n*1/n + (n-1)/n*(n-1)/n*1/n + …………

The expression on right side is a GP with infinite elements. Let us apply the sum formula (a/(1-r))

E/n = [1/n]/[1-(n-1)/n]  = 1
E = n
edited

This is a type of geometric distribution. Searching an element randomly in array is like tossing a coin(not necessarily fair) until first head comes. Probability of which is 1/n. I am assuming that element is actually in an array. Expected value of geometric random variable is 1/p where p is the probability of success, here 1/n. So answer is 1/(1/n) = n.

Do not know if it is a correct approach. Some one please verify.
Suppose array contains 10 elements.
'i' will be chosen at random, so probability that we will get our element in first try = 1/10.
Expected number of try for getting the element is  1/p  =   10
https://gateoverflow.in/3561/gate2006-it-22

Hence answer is   a) n .

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@Arjun sir please say are the both qsns talking about same thing ?
I guess yes..