Searching Algorithms and Binary Search Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for GATE DA: 3+ Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions

    Solve 3+ Searching Algorithms and Binary Search previous year questions for GATE DA with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample questions below.

    Chapter Roadmap: Searching Algorithms and Binary Search

    Chapter Journey

    Searching Algorithms and Binary Search

    Step 1: The Mathematical Engine

    Binary Search Recurrence and Worst-Case Comparisons

    Master the exact math, recurrence relations, and depth calculations.

    Step 2: The Physical Constraints

    Binary Search Preconditions and Data Representation

    Understand the strict structural rules for the algorithm to function.

    Goal: Mathematically prove efficiency and identify exact structural limitations.

    The Core Intuition: Divide and Conquer

    The Core Intuition

    Binary search is the ultimate divide and conquer strategy for sorted data.

    The Mental Model

    Imagine searching a physical dictionary. You open it exactly to the middle. If the target comes before the middle page, you ignore the entire right half. You cut a massive problem exactly in half.

    The Mathematical Magic

    The speed comes from the problem size shrinking by a constant fraction at every step.

    Linear n, n-1, n-2 ...
    Binary n, n/2, n/4 ...

    Searching Algorithms and Binary Search: Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Explanations (3 Problems)

    Question 1 · Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms MCQ
    Let denote the maximum number of comparisons made while searching for
    an entry in a sorted array of size using binary search.
    Which ONE of the following options is TRUE?
    1. A.

    2. B.

    3. C.

    4. D.

    Question 2 · Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms NAT
    Let A be a sorted array containing 1000 distinct integers. You perform a recursive binary search on A to find an element y. Suppose each comparison checks whether the middle element computed during the current recursive step is equal to, less than, or greater than y.
    The maximum number of comparisons that may have to be performed if y is not an element of A is _______ . (Answer in integer)
    Question 3 · Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms MCQ

    For which of the following inputs does binary search take time in the worst case?

    1. A.

      An array of integers in any order

    2. B.

      A linked list of integers in any order

    3. C.

      An array of integers in increasing order

    4. D.

      A linked list of integers in increasing order

    More previous year questions (pyqs) in this unit

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    Searching Algorithms and Binary Search Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for GATE DA: 3+ Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions

    Solve 3+ Searching Algorithms and Binary Search previous year questions for GATE DA with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample questions below.

    A question from this chapter

    Question 1
    Let denote the maximum number of comparisons made while searching for
    an entry in a sorted array of size using binary search.
    Which ONE of the following options is TRUE?
    Question 2
    Let A be a sorted array containing 1000 distinct integers. You perform a recursive binary search on A to find an element y. Suppose each comparison checks whether the middle element computed during the current recursive step is equal to, less than, or greater than y.
    The maximum number of comparisons that may have to be performed if y is not an element of A is _______ . (Answer in integer)
    Question 3

    For which of the following inputs does binary search take time in the worst case?

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