Data Structures and Algorithms: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

New problemsBack to the course

In the print window, choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your device.

1Formulas and methods

Graph theory

Handshake lemma
Σ deg(v) = 2|E|
Complete graphs
|E(Kn)| = n(n − 1)/2, |E(Km,n)| = m·n
Regular graph
|E| = n·k/2
Tree and forest
|E| = n − 1, |E| = n − c
Leaves of a tree
L = 2 + Σ (deg(v) − 2) over deg(v) ≥ 3
Euler
circuit: all degrees even; path: exactly 2 odd degrees
Hamilton circuits in Kn
(n − 1)!/2
Dijkstra update
d(v) = min(d(v), d(u) + w(u, v))
Walks of length L
(Mᴸ)ij

Method

  1. Write down the degree of every vertex; the degrees add up to twice the number of edges.
  2. For Euler questions, check that the graph is connected and count the vertices with odd degree.
  3. For trees, use n − 1 edges and the handshake lemma.
  4. For Dijkstra, keep a table of tentative distances and settle the smallest unsettled vertex each round.
  5. For a minimum spanning tree, sort the edges by weight and skip every edge that closes a cycle (Kruskal), or grow one tree from a start vertex (Prim).

2Practice problems

1.Algorithms & complexityMedium

How does Prim's algorithm build a minimum spanning tree?

  1. AIt removes the most expensive edge until no cycles remain
  2. BIt sorts all edges by weight and adds each one unless it would form a cycle in the forest
  3. CIt runs breadth-first search and keeps the BFS tree
  4. DIt grows one tree from a start vertex, adding the cheapest edge that leaves the tree
2.Algorithms & complexityHard

What does the recurrence T(n) = 2T(n/2) + n log n solve to?

  1. AΘ(n log n)
  2. BΘ(n)
  3. CΘ(n log² n)
  4. DΘ(n²)
3.Data structuresMedium

What balance condition does an AVL tree maintain at every node?

  1. AThe heights of the left and right subtrees differ by at most 1
  2. BAll leaves are at exactly the same depth
  3. CBoth subtrees of every node contain exactly the same number of nodes
  4. DEvery node is coloured red or black
4.Data structuresHard

How long does it take to search for an arbitrary key in a binary min-heap of n elements?

  1. AO(1)
  2. BO(n)
  3. CO(log log n)
  4. DO(log n)
5.Graph theoryMedium

How many different Hamilton circuits H does the complete graph K8 have? Circuits that differ only in the starting vertex or the direction count as the same.

K8
H =
6.Graph theoryHard
1715713941512711ABCDEFG

Dijkstra’s algorithm runs from A. Click the vertex that is settled (made permanent) in round 4; A itself is round 1.

start: Around 4
  1. 1A
  2. 2B
  3. 3C
  4. 4D
  5. 5E
  6. 6F
  7. 7G

3Solutions

1.Algorithms & complexity

Answer: D · It grows one tree from a start vertex, adding the cheapest edge that leaves the tree

Why this is the answer

Prim's algorithm, with a priority queue of crossing edges, runs in O(E log V) with a binary heap.

Answer

D · It grows one tree from a start vertex, adding the cheapest edge that leaves the tree
2.Algorithms & complexity

Answer: C · Θ(n log² n)

Why this is the answer

Level k does about n log(n / 2ᵏ) work, and summing over log n levels gives Θ(n log² n), the extended second case of the master theorem.

Answer

C · Θ(n log² n)
3.Data structures

Answer: A · The heights of the left and right subtrees differ by at most 1

Why this is the answer

The balance factor (height left − height right) must be −1, 0 or 1; rotations restore it after inserts and deletes.

Answer

A · The heights of the left and right subtrees differ by at most 1
4.Data structures

Answer: B · O(n)

Why this is the answer

A heap gives no rule for which subtree contains a key, so in the worst case all nodes must be checked; only the minimum is fast to find.

Answer

B · O(n)
5.Graph theory

Answer: H = 2520

Euler, Hamilton and trees: a connected graph has an Euler circuit (every edge once, back to the start) when every vertex has even degree, and an Euler path that is not a circuit when exactly two vertices have odd degree; the path then runs from one odd vertex to the other. A Hamilton circuit visits every vertex once; Kn has (n − 1)!/2 of them. A tree on n vertices has n − 1 edges, and a connected graph with m edges keeps a spanning tree after removing m − n + 1 edges.

Count

H = (8 − 1)!/2 = 5040/2 = 2520

Answer

H = 2520
6.Graph theory

Answer: D

Shortest paths and spanning trees: Dijkstra’s algorithm settles one vertex per round: the unsettled vertex with the smallest tentative distance. Its distance is then final, and every neighbour v gets d(v) = min(d(v), d(u) + w(u, v)). Kruskal’s algorithm builds a minimum spanning tree by taking the edges from light to heavy and skipping any edge that would close a cycle; Prim’s algorithm grows one tree from a start vertex by always adding the lightest edge that leaves it. A spanning tree of n vertices has n − 1 edges.

Dijkstra round by round

1. A (0): B: 1, C: 7
2. B (1): D: 8, G: 13
3. C (7): E: 20
4. D (8): E: 17, F: 12
5. F (12)
6. G (13)
7. E (17)

round 4

D

Answer

D

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/data-structures-and-algorithms