Project 1

Searching, Step Counts, and Big O Analysis

This is an individual assignment. You will have lab time to work on this assignment as well as homework time.

Create a project that analyzes the complexity of linear search and binary search using an empirical step count for each. Suggested array sizes will be 200, 400, 600, and 800.

• Create the arrays and assign randomized values for each element in the array. The randomized values should range from 1 to twice the size of the array. For example, for an array of 200, assign random values between 1 and 400. Use a constant for the size of the array. Edit the value of the constant in different runs of the program to account for the various array sizes.
• Perform a step count test for linear search. To get an appropriate average step count for linear search, run the search in a counting loop that executes 1000 times, and divide the total step count for all 1000 searches by 1000. Each call to the linear search function should use its own random value for the search parameter covering the appropriate range of each array. Display both the total step count of the 1000 linear searches and the average step count for linear search.
• Sort the array.
• Similarly perform and display the step count totals and average for binary search.
• You may use some of the code in LinearSearch.cpp and BinarySearch.cpp under our course Resources as a resource but be on the alert for any errors in these programs.
• When you display the arrays to demonstrate your work, display each value on its own line and show the index as a label for the elements value. For example, if the first element has a value of 39, display as follows:

[0]: 39

Submit:

1. Zipped project folder for investigating the step counts of each search. The project folder should be submitted in its own zipped project folder. Use only .zip folders (not .rar folder).
2. An Excel spreadsheet showing how the growth of the data set (n) affects the number of steps that each algorithm takes. The data should be shown in table and chart displays. See Unit 2 Part 3 of CSC 231 Units. Copy and paste the output of your program showing the step count data for linear and binary search for each of the four sizes of the array.

Grading

Linear Search Code is documented and uses meaningful identifiers Code should be well-structured and easy to read Search runs correctly Step counts are reasonably correct Binary Search Code is documented and uses meaningful identifiers Code should be well-structured and easy to read Search runs correctly Step counts are reasonably correct Excel spreadsheet Screen shots of programs runs show step count data. Data displayed in table format. Charts show how the growth of the data set affects the number of steps that the algorithm takes.

5 points 5 points 10 points 10 points 5 points 5 points 10 points 10 points 10 points 10 points 20 points Total 100