250+ TOP MCQs on Heapsort Multiple Choice Questions and Answers (MCQs) and Answers

Data Structures & Algorithms Multiple Choice Questions on “Heapsort – 1”.

1. On which algorithm is heap sort based on?
a) Fibonacci heap
b) Binary tree
c) Priority queue
d) FIFO
Answer: c
Clarification: Heap sort is based on the algorithm of priority queue and it gives the best sorting time.

2. In what time can a binary heap be built?
a) O(N)
b) O(N log N)
c) O(log N)
d) O(N²)

Answer: a
Clarification: The basic strategy is to build a binary heap of N elements which takes O(N) time.

3. Heap sort is faster than Shell sort.
a) true
b) false
Answer: b
Clarification: Heap sort is slower than Shell sort because Shell sort uses Sedgewick’s increment sequence.

4. Consider the following heap after buildheap phase. What will be its corresponding array?

a) 26,53,41,97,58,59,31
b) 26,31,41,53,58,59,97
c) 26,41,53,97,31,58,59
d) 97,53,59,26,41,58,31
Answer: d
Clarification: Constructing a max heap using the elements 97,53,59,26,41,58,31 will cause the heap to look like that.

5. In what position does the array for heap sort contains data?
a) 0
b) 1
c) -1
d) anywhere in the array

Answer: a
Clarification: The array for heap sort contains data at position 0 whereas for a binary heap, array begins at 1. This is the reason for its complexity.

6. In heap sort, after deleting the last minimum element, the array will contain elements in?
a) increasing sorting order
b) decreasing sorting order
c) tree inorder
d) tree preorder
Answer: b
Clarification: By logic, after deleting minimum element, the heap will contain elements in decreasing sorting order. We can change this by altering the ordering property.

7. What is the typical running time of a heap sort algorithm?
a) O(N)
b) O(N log N)
c) O(log N)
d) O(N²)
Answer: b
Clarification: The total running time of a heap sort algorithm is mathematically found to be O(N log N).

8. How many arrays are required to perform deletion operation in a heap?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

Answer: b
Clarification: To perform deletion operation in a heap, we require 2 arrays and that occupies extra memory space and hence increase in running time.

9. What is the time taken to perform a delete min operation?
a) O(N)
b) O(N log N)
c) O(log N)
d) O(N²)

Answer: c
Clarification: The time taken to perform a deletion of a minimum element is mathematically found to be O( log N).

10. Heap sort is an extremely stable algorithm.
a) true
b) false
View Answer

Answer: a
Clarification: Heap sort uses fewer comparisons than other sorting algorithms and hence it is an extremely stable algorithm.

11. What is the average number of comparisons used in a heap sort algorithm?
a) N log N-O(N)
b) O(N log N)-O(N)
c) O(N log N)-1
d) 2N log N + O(N)
View Answer

Answer: d
Clarification: The average number of comparisons in a heapsort algorithm is mathematically found to be 2N log N + O(N).

12. What is the time taken to copy elements to and from two arrays created for deletion?
a) O(N)
b) O(N log N)
c) O(log N)
d) O(N²)

Answer: a
Clarification: The time taken to copy elements to and from the main array and extra array is found to be O(N).

13. What is the average number of comparisons used to heap sort a random permutation of N distinct items?
a) 2N log N-O(N)
b) 2N log N-O(N log N)
c) 2N log N-O(N log log N)
d) 2N log N-O(log N)
Answer: c
Clarification: According to a theorem, the average number of comparisons used to heap sort a random permutation of N distinct items is found to be 2N log N-O(N log log N).

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