Which data structure would be the most appropriate to implement a coll...
Head and tail pointers in singly link list will make the insertion and deletion in O(1) time complexity if we are accessing the elements in FIFO order. In doubly link list since only head pointer is given then for insertion we have to traverse the complete link list so insertion will be O(n) so not appropriate. In binary tree we have only a pointer to the root. Insertion and deletion in binary tree will be O(log n) so not appropriate. In hash table accessing the data in FIFO order will not be possible.
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Which data structure would be the most appropriate to implement a coll...
Introduction:
In this question, we are given three characteristics of a collection of values and we need to determine which data structure would be the most appropriate to implement such a collection. The three characteristics are:
i) Items are retrieved and removed from the collection in FIFO order.
ii) There is no priori limit to the number of items in the collection.
iii) The size of an item is large relative to storage required for a memory address.
Analysis:
Let's analyze each of the given data structures and see which one fulfills all three characteristics:
1. Singly linked list with head and tail pointers:
- This data structure allows items to be retrieved and removed in FIFO order as it maintains the order of insertion.
- It can accommodate any number of items as there is no priori limit.
- The size of an item being large relative to storage required for a memory address doesn't affect the choice of this data structure.
2. Doubly linked list with only a head pointer:
- This data structure also allows items to be retrieved and removed in FIFO order.
- It can accommodate any number of items.
- Similar to a singly linked list, the size of an item being large relative to storage required for a memory address doesn't affect the choice of this data structure.
3. Binary tree:
- While a binary tree can accommodate any number of items, it does not necessarily guarantee FIFO order for retrieval and removal. The order depends on the specific implementation of the tree.
- Additionally, a binary tree does not have a direct connection between nodes, so it may not be efficient for removing items in FIFO order.
4. Hash table:
- A hash table does not guarantee FIFO order for retrieval and removal. The order depends on the hash function used and the collisions that may occur.
- The size of an item being large relative to storage required for a memory address also doesn't affect the choice of this data structure.
Conclusion:
Based on the analysis above, the most appropriate data structure to implement a collection of values with the given characteristics is a singly linked list with head and tail pointers. This data structure fulfills all three characteristics as it allows items to be retrieved and removed in FIFO order, can accommodate any number of items, and the size of an item being large relative to storage required for a memory address doesn't affect its efficiency.