Design and Analysis of Algorithm MCQ

Design and Analysis of Algorithm MCQ. Enhance understanding of Algorithms with 100 objective questions. Covers design, complexity, sorting & searching methods. Includes answers.

Design and Analysis of Algorithm MCQ – Mock Online Test

Question 1: What is an algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem.

Question 2: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an algorithm?

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Correct Answer: D. Ambiguity. An algorithm must be free from ambiguity.

Question 3: Why should an algorithm have well-defined inputs and outputs?

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Correct Answer: C. To clarify the purpose of the algorithm. Well-defined inputs and outputs clarify the purpose and behavior of the algorithm.

Question 4: Finiteness in an algorithm means that the algorithm must:

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Correct Answer: A. Have a defined end. An algorithm must have a defined end to ensure it does not run indefinitely.

Question 5: Why is algorithmic thinking important?

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Correct Answer: C. It provides a logical structure for problem-solving. Algorithmic thinking provides a logical structure for approaching and solving problems.

Question 6: Which of the following is a benefit of algorithmic thinking?

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Correct Answer: B. Encourages creative approaches to problems. Algorithmic thinking encourages systematic and creative approaches to solving problems.

Question 7: How do algorithms assist in problem-solving?

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Correct Answer: A. By reducing the problem into smaller, manageable steps. Algorithms break down a problem into smaller steps that can be more easily solved.

Question 8: Which phase in algorithm development focuses on defining the problem clearly?

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Correct Answer: B. Problem definition. Problem definition focuses on clearly defining what the algorithm is meant to solve.

Question 9: What does Big O notation measure?

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Correct Answer: B. The worst-case time complexity of an algorithm. Big O notation describes the worst-case time complexity of an algorithm.

Question 10: Which of the following is a characteristic of Ω (Omega) notation?

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Correct Answer: A. It measures the best-case performance of an algorithm. Ω (Omega) notation describes the best-case performance of an algorithm.

Question 11: What is the basic principle of the divide and conquer technique?

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Correct Answer: B. Dividing the problem into smaller subproblems, solving them, and combining the results. Divide and conquer involves dividing the problem into smaller subproblems, solving them independently, and combining the results.

Question 12: In binary search, how is the search space divided at each step?

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Correct Answer: A. Into two equal parts. Binary search divides the search space into two equal parts at each step.

Question 13: Which of the following algorithms uses the divide and conquer technique?

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Correct Answer: A. Quick Sort. Quick Sort is an example of a divide and conquer algorithm.

Question 14: What is the time complexity of the merge sort algorithm?

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Correct Answer: B. O(n log n). The time complexity of merge sort is O(n log n).

Question 15: Which of the following is a key step in the divide and conquer approach used in Quick Sort?

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Correct Answer: A. Choosing a pivot. Choosing a pivot is a key step in the Quick Sort algorithm.

Question 16: What happens after dividing a problem into subproblems in the divide and conquer technique?

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Correct Answer: A. The subproblems are solved independently. In divide and conquer, subproblems are solved independently before combining the results.

Question 17: What is the core idea behind greedy algorithms?

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Correct Answer: A. Solve the problem by making a series of local optimal choices. Greedy algorithms work by making a series of local optimal choices to build the solution.

Question 18: Which of the following problems can be solved using the greedy algorithm approach?

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Correct Answer: A. Huffman Coding. Huffman Coding is solved using the greedy algorithm approach.

Question 19: In Prim’s algorithm, what does the greedy choice involve?

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Correct Answer: A. Selecting the vertex with the smallest edge cost. Prim’s algorithm makes the greedy choice by selecting the vertex with the smallest edge cost.

Question 20: Which property is essential for a problem to be solved using a greedy algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. Optimal substructure. Greedy algorithms rely on the problem having an optimal substructure.

Question 21: The 0/1 knapsack problem can be solved using which approach?

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Correct Answer: C. Dynamic Programming. The 0/1 knapsack problem is solved using dynamic programming, not the greedy approach.

Question 22: In Kruskal’s algorithm, what is the greedy choice made at each step?

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Correct Answer: A. Selecting the smallest edge that does not form a cycle. Kruskal’s algorithm selects the smallest edge that does not form a cycle.

Question 23: What is the main difference between dynamic programming and divide and conquer?

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Correct Answer: A. Dynamic programming solves each subproblem once and stores the solution. Dynamic programming solves each subproblem once, stores the solution, and reuses it.

Question 24: Which of the following problems is solved using dynamic programming?

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Correct Answer: A. Matrix Chain Multiplication. Matrix Chain Multiplication is a problem that can be solved using dynamic programming.

Question 25: What is memoization in dynamic programming?

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Correct Answer: A. Storing solutions to subproblems to avoid redundant calculations. Memoization is a technique used to store the results of subproblems to avoid recalculating them.

Question 26: Which of the following algorithms is based on dynamic programming?

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Correct Answer: A. Longest Common Subsequence. The Longest Common Subsequence algorithm is based on dynamic programming.

Question 27: What is the time complexity of the dynamic programming solution to the 0/1 knapsack problem?

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Correct Answer: C. O(nW), where W is the capacity of the knapsack. The dynamic programming solution to the 0/1 knapsack problem has a time complexity of O(nW), where W is the capacity of the knapsack.

Question 28: What is the key idea behind backtracking?

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Correct Answer: A. Try all possible solutions and backtrack when a solution fails. Backtracking involves trying possible solutions and backtracking when a solution is not feasible.

Question 29: In which of the following problems is backtracking commonly used?

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Correct Answer: A. N-Queens Problem. The N-Queens Problem is often solved using the backtracking technique.

Question 30: Which of the following is a characteristic of the backtracking approach?

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Correct Answer: A. It explores all possible solutions. Backtracking explores all possible solutions by recursively trying each possibility.

Question 31: What is the main purpose of the branch and bound technique?

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Correct Answer: A. To find an optimal solution by systematically exploring solution space. Branch and bound is used to find the optimal solution by systematically exploring the solution space.

Question 32: Which problem can be solved using the branch and bound technique?

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Correct Answer: A. Travelling Salesman Problem. The Travelling Salesman Problem can be solved using the branch and bound technique.

Question 33: In the branch and bound method, how is the solution space pruned?

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Correct Answer: A. By eliminating branches that do not provide better solutions. Branch and bound prunes the solution space by eliminating branches that do not provide better solutions.

Question 34: What is the key characteristic of a randomized algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. It makes decisions randomly to solve a problem. A randomized algorithm makes some decisions randomly to solve a problem.

Question 35: Which of the following is an example of a randomized algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. Randomized Quick Sort. Randomized Quick Sort is an example of a randomized algorithm.

Question 36: What does time complexity measure in an algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. The amount of time an algorithm takes relative to its input size. Time complexity measures the amount of time an algorithm takes as a function of the input size.

Question 37: In the best-case scenario, what is the time complexity of linear search?

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Correct Answer: A. O(1). In the best-case scenario, the time complexity of linear search is O(1), when the target element is the first in the list.

Question 38: What does the recurrence relation help to analyze in recursive algorithms?

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Correct Answer: A. Time complexity. Recurrence relations help analyze the time complexity of recursive algorithms.

Question 39: What does space complexity refer to?

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Correct Answer: A. The amount of memory an algorithm uses as a function of input size. Space complexity refers to the amount of memory an algorithm uses as its input size grows.

Question 40: What is auxiliary space in the context of algorithms?

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Correct Answer: A. The extra space or temporary storage used by an algorithm. Auxiliary space refers to the extra space or temporary storage used by an algorithm during its execution.

Question 41: What does NP stand for in computational complexity?

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Correct Answer: A. Non-deterministic Polynomial time. NP stands for Non-deterministic Polynomial time.

Question 42: Which of the following is an example of an NP-Complete problem?

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Correct Answer: A. Travelling Salesman Problem. The Travelling Salesman Problem is a classic example of an NP-Complete problem.

Question 43: What is the Cook-Levin theorem related to?

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Correct Answer: A. The first proof that SAT is NP-Complete. The Cook-Levin theorem was the first proof that SAT is NP-Complete.

Question 44: Which of the following classes contain problems that are both in NP and can be solved in polynomial time?

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Correct Answer: A. P. P is the class of problems that are both in NP and can be solved in polynomial time.

Question 45: Approximation algorithms are typically used for which type of problems?

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Correct Answer: A. NP-Hard Problems. Approximation algorithms are typically used for NP-Hard problems where finding an exact solution is computationally infeasible.

Question 46: What is the time complexity of the selection sort algorithm?

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Correct Answer: B. O(n^2). The time complexity of selection sort is O(n^2) as it involves two nested loops.

Question 47: Which of the following sorting algorithms repeatedly swaps adjacent elements if they are in the wrong order?

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Correct Answer: A. Bubble Sort. Bubble Sort repeatedly swaps adjacent elements if they are in the wrong order.

Question 48: What is the best-case time complexity of insertion sort?

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Correct Answer: B. O(n). The best-case time complexity of insertion sort is O(n), which occurs when the input array is already sorted.

Question 49: Which sorting algorithm is based on the divide and conquer principle and has an average time complexity of O(n log n)?

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Correct Answer: A. Quick Sort. Quick Sort is a divide and conquer algorithm with an average time complexity of O(n log n).

Question 50: What is the time complexity of merge sort?

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Correct Answer: A. O(n log n). Merge sort has a time complexity of O(n log n) because it divides the array and then merges the sorted subarrays.

Question 51: Which of the following sorting algorithms is a non-comparative sort?

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Correct Answer: A. Counting Sort. Counting Sort is a non-comparative sorting algorithm, as it sorts elements by counting occurrences rather than comparing elements.

Question 52: What is the time complexity of linear search in the worst case?

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Correct Answer: A. O(n). In the worst case, the time complexity of linear search is O(n), as every element may need to be checked.

Question 53: In binary search, the time complexity is O(log n) because:

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Correct Answer: A. The search space is halved with each comparison. Binary search has O(log n) complexity because the search space is halved with each comparison.

Question 55: What is the primary advantage of AVL trees over simple binary search trees?

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Correct Answer: A. Self-balancing to ensure logarithmic search time. AVL trees are self-balancing, which ensures that operations like search, insert, and delete take logarithmic time.

Question 56: What is the difference between an adjacency matrix and an adjacency list in graph representation?

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Correct Answer: A. An adjacency matrix uses a 2D array, while an adjacency list uses linked lists. An adjacency matrix uses a 2D array, while an adjacency list uses linked lists to represent the graph.

Question 57: Which graph traversal algorithm explores vertices by visiting all adjacent vertices before moving to the next level?

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Correct Answer: A. Breadth-First Search (BFS). Breadth-First Search (BFS) explores all adjacent vertices before moving to the next level.

Question 58: In depth-first search (DFS), the graph is traversed:

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Correct Answer: A. By exploring as far as possible along each branch before backtracking. In DFS, the graph is traversed by exploring as far as possible along each branch before backtracking.

Question 59: Prim’s algorithm is used to find:

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Correct Answer: A. The minimum spanning tree of a graph. Prim’s algorithm is used to find the minimum spanning tree of a graph.

Question 60: In Kruskal’s algorithm, how are edges selected for the minimum spanning tree?

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Correct Answer: A. By selecting the smallest edge that does not form a cycle. Kruskal’s algorithm selects the smallest edge that does not form a cycle.

Question 61: What is the time complexity of Prim’s algorithm when implemented using a binary heap?

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Correct Answer: A. O(E log V). The time complexity of Prim’s algorithm when implemented using a binary heap is O(E log V), where E is the number of edges and V is the number of vertices.

Question 62: What does Dijkstra’s algorithm compute?

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Correct Answer: A. The shortest path from a single source to all other vertices. Dijkstra’s algorithm computes the shortest path from a single source to all other vertices in a graph.

Question 63: Bellman-Ford algorithm can handle graphs with:

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Correct Answer: A. Negative weight edges. The Bellman-Ford algorithm can handle graphs with negative weight edges.

Question 64: The time complexity of the Floyd-Warshall algorithm for finding all-pairs shortest paths is:

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Correct Answer: A. O(V^3). The time complexity of the Floyd-Warshall algorithm is O(V^3), where V is the number of vertices.

Question 65: What is the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm used for?

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Correct Answer: A. Computing the maximum flow in a flow network. The Ford-Fulkerson algorithm is used to compute the maximum flow in a flow network.

Question 66: Which of the following algorithms improves the Ford-Fulkerson method by using breadth-first search?

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Correct Answer: A. Edmonds-Karp Algorithm. The Edmonds-Karp algorithm improves the Ford-Fulkerson method by using breadth-first search to find augmenting paths.

Question 67: In a maximum bipartite matching problem, the goal is to:

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Correct Answer: A. Pair vertices of two sets such that the number of edges is maximized. The goal of maximum bipartite matching is to pair vertices from two sets such that the number of edges is maximized.

Question 68: What is the main application of network flow algorithms?

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Correct Answer: A. Optimization problems in logistics and traffic flow. Network flow algorithms are often used in optimization problems such as logistics and traffic flow.

Question 69: What is the time complexity of the naive string matching algorithm in the worst case?

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Correct Answer: B. O(n * m). The time complexity of the naive string matching algorithm in the worst case is O(n * m), where n is the length of the text and m is the length of the pattern.

Question 70: What is the main feature of the Rabin-Karp algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. It uses hashing to find multiple pattern occurrences efficiently. The Rabin-Karp algorithm uses hashing to efficiently find multiple occurrences of a pattern in a text.

Question 71: What is the key improvement of the KMP algorithm over the naive string matching algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. It avoids rechecking characters after a mismatch. The KMP algorithm avoids rechecking characters after a mismatch, which improves its efficiency over the naive method.

Question 72: What is the primary advantage of the Boyer-Moore algorithm in string matching?

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Correct Answer: A. It skips sections of the text based on mismatches. The Boyer-Moore algorithm skips sections of the text based on mismatches, which makes it more efficient.

Question 73: What is the time complexity of inserting an element into a binary heap?

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Correct Answer: A. O(log n). The time complexity of inserting an element into a binary heap is O(log n).

Question 74: In a max heap, the largest element is always found at:

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Correct Answer: A. The root. In a max heap, the largest element is always at the root.

Question 75: What is the key difference between a binary heap and a Fibonacci heap?

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Correct Answer: A. Fibonacci heaps allow faster decrease-key operations. Fibonacci heaps allow faster decrease-key operations compared to binary heaps.

Question 76: What is the purpose of path compression in union-find data structures?

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Correct Answer: A. To flatten the structure, making future operations faster. Path compression flattens the structure, making future operations faster by keeping the tree shallower.

Question 77: Union by rank helps to:

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Correct Answer: A. Reduce the height of the tree in union-find operations. Union by rank helps to reduce the height of the tree in union-find operations.

Question 78: What is the purpose of a hash function?

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Correct Answer: A. To map data of arbitrary size to fixed-size values. A hash function maps data of arbitrary size to fixed-size values for efficient lookups.

Question 79: Which collision resolution technique in hashing uses open addressing?

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Correct Answer: A. Linear probing. Linear probing is a collision resolution technique that uses open addressing.

Question 80: What is a trie primarily used for?

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Correct Answer: A. Efficiently storing and searching strings. A trie is primarily used for efficiently storing and searching strings.

Question 81: In a trie, each node represents:

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Correct Answer: A. A character of a string. In a trie, each node represents a character of a string.

Question 82: What is the main advantage of using a segment tree?

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Correct Answer: A. Efficient range queries and updates. Segment trees are used for efficient range queries and updates on arrays.

Question 83: What is the primary use of a Binary Indexed Tree (BIT)?

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Correct Answer: A. Performing range sum queries. A Binary Indexed Tree (BIT) is used for performing efficient range sum queries.

Question 84: Approximation algorithms are used for which type of problems?

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Correct Answer: A. NP-Hard problems. Approximation algorithms are commonly used for NP-Hard problems where finding an exact solution is impractical.

Question 85: The Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) is commonly solved using which approach?

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Correct Answer: A. Approximation algorithms. The Traveling Salesman Problem is often solved using approximation algorithms due to its NP-Hard nature.

Question 86: In an approximation algorithm, the performance ratio is defined as:

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Correct Answer: A. The ratio of the approximate solution to the optimal solution. The performance ratio is the ratio of the approximate solution’s value to the optimal solution’s value.

Question 87: What is the main characteristic of a Monte Carlo algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. It produces a correct result with high probability but not always. Monte Carlo algorithms produce a correct result with high probability but not always.

Question 88: What differentiates a Las Vegas algorithm from a Monte Carlo algorithm?

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Correct Answer: A. Las Vegas algorithms always produce a correct result. Las Vegas algorithms always produce a correct result but may take a variable amount of time.

Question 89: A Markov chain is characterized by:

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Correct Answer: A. The future state depending only on the current state. A Markov chain is characterized by the fact that the future state depends only on the current state, not on the sequence of events that preceded it.

Question 90: A problem that can be solved in polynomial time is classified under which complexity class?

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Correct Answer: A. P. A problem that can be solved in polynomial time is classified under the complexity class P.

Question 91: Which of the following statements is true about NP problems?

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Correct Answer: A. They can be verified in polynomial time. NP problems can be verified in polynomial time, even though they may not be solvable in polynomial time.

Question 92: Non-deterministic algorithms differ from deterministic algorithms in that they:

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Correct Answer: A. Guess solutions and verify correctness. Non-deterministic algorithms guess solutions and verify their correctness, as opposed to following a fixed sequence of steps.

Question 93: Which of the following quantum algorithms is used for factoring large integers?

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Correct Answer: A. Shor’s Algorithm. Shor’s Algorithm is a quantum algorithm used for factoring large integers.

Question 94: What is the purpose of Grover’s algorithm in quantum computing?

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Correct Answer: A. To search an unsorted database in $O(\sqrt{n})$ time. Grover’s algorithm is used to search an unsorted database in $O(\sqrt{n})$ time.

Question 95: Quantum algorithms are known for offering speedups over classical algorithms in which type of problems?

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Correct Answer: A. Problems involving large-scale data search. Quantum algorithms, such as Grover’s, offer significant speedups in problems involving large-scale data search.

Question 96: Parallel algorithms are designed to:

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Correct Answer: A. Divide tasks among multiple processors to reduce computation time. Parallel algorithms are designed to divide tasks among multiple processors to reduce computation time.

Question 97: In distributed algorithms, the computation is:

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Correct Answer: A. Performed across multiple networked computers. Distributed algorithms involve computation that is spread across multiple networked computers.

Question 98: Streaming algorithms are designed to handle:

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Correct Answer: A. Large data sets that cannot fit into memory. Streaming algorithms are designed to handle large data sets that cannot fit into memory by processing data in small chunks.

Question 99: What is the key idea behind genetic algorithms?

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Correct Answer: A. They mimic the process of natural selection to solve optimization problems. Genetic algorithms mimic the process of natural selection to find approximate solutions to optimization problems.

Question 100: In evolutionary algorithms, a population of solutions evolves over time based on:

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Correct Answer: A. Selection, crossover, and mutation. In evolutionary algorithms, a population of solutions evolves over time through processes like selection, crossover, and mutation.

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