Divide and Conquer Algorithms

Last updated on October 10th, 2024 at 01:50 pm

Here, We will discuss about divide and conquer algorithms, their strategy, pros and cons of divide and conquer, applications of divide and conquer algorithm.

What is Divide and Conquer Algorithm ?

Some problems failed to provide optimal solutions. Among those problems, some are easily solved by using the Divide and Conquer technique.

Divide and Conquer is an important algorithm design technique based on recursion.

The Divide and Conquer algorithm works by recursively breaking down a problem into two or more sub-problems of the same type, until they become simple enough to be solved directly. The solutions to the sub-problems are then combined to give a solution to the original problem.

What is Divide and Conquer Strategy?

In Divide and Conquer, we solve problem recursively, apply three steps at each level of the recursion:

  1. Divide: Breaking the problem into a number of sub-problems that are smaller instances of the same problem.
  2. Conquer: Recursively solving these sub-problems.
  3. Combine: Combining solutions to the sub-problems into the solution for original problem.
divide and conquer algorithm figure

Does Divide and Conquer Always Work?

It is not possible to solve all the problems with the Divide and Conquer technique because for all problem it is not possible to find the sub-problems which are same size.

So, Divide and Conquer technique is not choice for all problems.

Pros and Cons of Divide and Conquer

ProsCons
Solving difficult problems with less time complexityIncludes recursion which consumes more space.
Sub-problems are independent, they can be computed in parallel.It may be more complicated than an iterative approach.

Applications of Divide and Conquer

  1. Quick Sort
  2. Merge Sort
  3. Counting inversions
  4. Binary Search
  5. Finding Min and Max
  6. Median Finding
  7. Closest Pair problem
  8. Strassen’s algorithms for Matrix Multiplication

Quick Sort

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Merge Sort

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