Selection Algorithms — Randomized-Select, Median of Medians, and Linear-Time Order Statistics | Chapter 9 of Intro to Algorithms
Selection Algorithms — Randomized-Select, Median of Medians, and Linear-Time Order Statistics | Chapter 9 of Intro to Algorithms Not every algorithm problem requires sorting. Chapter 9 of introduction to algorithms focuses on the selection problem—finding the ith order statistic (like the minimum, maximum, or median) without fully sorting the input. By using clever randomized and deterministic approaches, it’s possible to achieve linear time selection, unlocking huge performance gains for many practical applications. Prefer an audio breakdown? Watch the podcast summary below, and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more expert explanations of every chapter from introduction to algorithms . Understanding Order Statistics An order statistic is the ith smallest element in a set. Common examples include the minimum (1st order statistic), the maximum (nth order statistic), and the median (middle value). For an array of size n, the median is at index (n+1)/2 (odd n) or n/2...