Binary Search Steps Calculator
Determine how many comparisons binary search needs to find an item in a sorted list of size n.
Assumes ideal binary search without duplicates.
Examples
- n = 1000 ⇒ 10 steps
- n = 32 ⇒ 5 steps
FAQ
Why use logarithms?
Binary search halves the list each step, leading to log base 2 complexity.
What if n isn't a power of two?
The ceiling function accounts for the partial final step.
Does the list need to be sorted?
Yes, binary search requires a sorted dataset.
Can n be 0?
No, the list must contain at least one item.
Additional Information
- Binary search operates in O(log n) time.
- Useful for databases and algorithms classes.