Question

In a List of Positive Integers, Set MINIMUM to 1. For each number X in the list L, compare it to MINIMUM. If X is smaller, set MINIMUM to X.” Read this STATEMENT very carefully and Answer the below Questions.
A. Will this Algorithm RUN?? Yes or No with a justification

B. Will X Replace Any Value or Not?

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer to this question is given below in the explanation section.

Explanation:

The given problem scenario is:

In a List of Positive Integers, Set MINIMUM to 1. For each number X in the list L, compare it to MINIMUM. If X is smaller, set MINIMUM to X.

The answer to question A is: this algorithm will not run because:

If you a list of a positive number and you have already set it MINIMUM to 1, the comparison result with MINIMUM will not obtain. For example, lets suppose a list of numbers L. L={1,2,3,1,1,5,4,3,2}. You have already set the Minimum to 1. When you compare each number X in the list, if X >MINIMUM, then set MINIMUM to X.  

This will not work, because there are positive numbers in the list and the minimum positive number is 1. So the algorithm, will not execute the if-part.

In short, the pseudo-code of this problem is given below:

L={list of positive number e.g. 1,2,3,.......Xn}

MINIMUM=1

foreach ( X in L)

{

(if X<MINIMUM)

   {

       MINIMUM=X

   }

}

The answer to question B is X will not be replaced because X  replaced with MINIMUM only when if-part of this algorithm get executed. However, it is noted that X will not replace any value, if if-part will get executed, the Variable MINIMUM will get replaced with any value.