Establish that every compare-based sorting algorithm must employ at least N lg N comparisons (assuming that all potential input orderings are equally likely). Hint: When the comparison tree is balanced, the external path length—the total length of the pathways from the root to all leaves—which is minimized—is at least what the expected number of compares is.

Database System Concepts
7th Edition
ISBN:9780078022159
Author:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
Publisher:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
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Establish that every compare-based sorting algorithm must employ at least N lg N comparisons (assuming that all potential input orderings are equally likely). Hint: When the comparison tree is balanced, the external path length—the total length of the pathways from the root to all leaves—which is minimized—is at least what the expected number of compares is.

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