binarySearch(). (Objective 6.5)

[Divya Tiwari]

In connection to self test question no. 9 at the end of chapter 7 in the SCJP 1.5 book by K&B.

Please Elucidate the following answer:-

Given a properly prepared String array containing five elements, which range of results could a proper invocation of Arrays.binarySearch() produce?
A. 0 through 4
B. 0 through 5
C. -1 through 4
D. -1 through 5
E. -5 through 4
F. -5 through 5
G. -6 through 4
H. -6 through 5


Answer:
G is correct. If a match is found, binarySearch()will return the index of the element that was matched. If no match is found, binarySearch() will return a negative number that,if inverted and then decremented, gives you the insertion point (array index) at which the value searched on should be inserted into the array to maintain a proper sort.

[Nik Arora]

Hi Divya,
Look at the below formula. Where "N" stands for number of elements and since there 5 elements it will be

-(N+1) to (N-1)

-(5+1) to (5-1)

-6 to 4

regards

[anil kumar]

Hi

Divya

Welcome to JavaRanch


If we are having 5 elements in the list means
the index starts from 0 and ends with 4
ok
And these are strings means they are sorted properly
ok
now you are searching an element,and that element was not there.
then what you will get an insertinon as -6,invert and then decremented -1 that gives us index,where that element would be there.

And check the answers .

I think you have understood.


Thanks
Anil Kumar

[Divya Tiwari]

Thanks a lot. That helped.