Finding an optimal tree searching strategy in linear time

We address the extension of the binary search technique from sorted arrays and totally ordered sets to trees and tree-like partially ordered sets. As in the sorted array case, the goal is to minimize the number of queries required to find a target element in the worst case. However, while the optimal strategy for searching an array is straightforward (always query the middle element), the optimal strategy for searching a tree is dependent on the tree's structure and is harder to compute. We present an O(n)-time algorithm that finds the optimal strategy for binary searching a tree, improving the previous best O(n3 )-time algorithm. The significant improvement is due to a novel approach for computing subproblems, as well as a method for reusing parts of already computed subproblems, and a lineartime transformation from a solution in the form of an edge-weighed tree into a solution in the form of a decision tree.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: SODA
• Authors: Shay Mozes, Krzysztof Onak, Oren Weimann
• Keywords: Algorithms, Optimal Strategy, Partially Ordered Sets, SODA 2008, Sorted Array