Stack is useful for implementinga)Recursionb)Breadth first searchc)Depth first searchd)Both (a) and (c)Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

Yes, the correct answer is option 'D' – Both (a) and (c).

Let's explain why a stack is useful for implementing recursion and depth-first search (DFS):

a) Recursion: Recursion is a programming technique where a function calls itself to solve a problem by breaking it down into smaller subproblems. When a function calls itself, the current state of the function is stored in memory, including the local variables, return address, and other necessary information. This information is stored in a data structure called the call stack.

Each time a function is called recursively, a new frame is added to the top of the call stack, containing the information for that specific invocation. When the function completes its execution, the frame is removed from the stack, and the control returns to the previous invocation.

The call stack follows a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) order, meaning that the most recent function call is completed first before returning to the previous ones. This LIFO behavior matches the behavior of a stack data structure, making a stack an ideal choice for implementing recursion.

b) Depth First Search (DFS): DFS is a graph traversal algorithm that explores vertices as far as possible along each branch before backtracking. It can be implemented using a stack to keep track of the vertices being visited.

In the iterative implementation of DFS, a stack is used to store the vertices. The algorithm starts with an initial vertex, pushes it onto the stack, and marks it as visited. Then, it repeatedly pops a vertex from the stack, visits its adjacent unvisited vertices, and pushes them onto the stack. This process continues until the stack becomes empty.

By using a stack, the algorithm ensures that the most recently visited vertex is explored first, following the LIFO order.

Therefore, option 'D' – Both (a) and (c) – is the correct answer, as a stack is useful for implementing recursion and depth-first search (DFS) algorithms.

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