Linear vs binary search

Watch a sorted list change the number of guesses.

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Which uses fewer comparisons for this target?

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How it works & assumptions

Linear search checks 1 through the target. Binary search halves the inclusive interval using floor((low+high)/2) after each comparison.

Sorted consecutive integers 1…N. Target must be within the list. Comparison counts exclude setup and sorting.

References: CS1110, Lecture 27: Search (Spring 2019)

This is an ideal mathematical model, not a measurement or a forecast.

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