Question

The maximum number of comparisons performed by linear search to find an item in an array of N elements is _________.

Short answer

Answer: The maximum number of comparisons required for a linear search on an array of N elements is N.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the linear search algorithm

In a linear search, we start at the beginning of the array and compare each element sequentially until we find the desired item or reach the end of the array. In the worst-case scenario, the desired item is either not in the array or it is the last element in the array.

Determine the worst-case number of comparisons

In the worst-case scenario for a linear search, we would have to compare every element in the array before finding the target item or determining it is not in the array. In other words, the maximum number of comparisons required for a linear search on an array of N elements would be equal to N.

Present the final answer

The maximum number of comparisons performed by the linear search to find an item in an array of N elements is N.