Answer to Question #52159 in Programming & Computer Science for irebami

Question

Which of the following options is not true about a sorting algorithm?

a. It is for optimizing the use of other algorithms
b. it is often useful for canonicalizing data
c. It is used for producing human-readable output
d. None of the options is correct

Answer 1

Answer: d. None of the options is correct
A sorting algorithm isan algorithm that puts elements of a list in a certain order. The most-used
orders are numerical order and lexicographical order. Efficient sorting is
important for optimizing the use of other algorithms (such as search and merge
algorithms) which require input data to be in sorted lists. More formally, the
output must satisfy two conditions:
The output is innondecreasing order (each element is no smaller than the previous element
according to the desired total order);
The output is apermutation (reordering) of the input.
Further, the data isoften taken to be in an array, which allows random access, rather than a list,
which only allows sequential access, though often algorithms can be applied
with suitable modification to either type of data.
Sorting algorithms areprevalent in introductory computer science classes, where the abundance of
algorithms for the problem provides a gentle introduction to a variety of core
algorithm concepts, such as big O notation, divide and conquer algorithms, data
structures such as heaps and binary trees, randomized algorithms, best, worst
and average case analysis, time-space tradeoffs, and upper and lower bounds.