The time complexities of four standard graph algorithms are listed below.…

2012

The time complexities of four standard graph algorithms are listed below. Here, n is the number of vertices and m is the number of edges.

Match each algorithm item with its complexity code.

Algorithm item

Algorithm

Complexity code

Time complexity

a

Bellman–Ford algorithm

1

O(m log n)

b

Kruskal’s algorithm

2

O(n3)

c

Floyd–Warshall algorithm

3

O(mn)

d

Topological sorting

4

O(n + m)

Answer: A. a b c d 3 1 2 4ConceptAn algorithm’s asymptotic time is determined by the dominant operation and how many times it is repeated as the graph grows. Scanning every edge across…

  1. A.

    a

    b

    c

    d

    3

    1

    2

    4

  2. B.

    a

    b

    c

    d

    2

    4

    3

    1

  3. C.

    a

    b

    c

    d

    3

    4

    1

    2

  4. D.

    a

    b

    c

    d

    2

    1

    3

    4

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Concept

An algorithm’s asymptotic time is determined by the dominant operation and how many times it is repeated as the graph grows.

Scanning every edge across a linear number of vertex passes gives O(mn); examining every ordered triple of vertices gives O(n3); a single vertex-and-edge traversal gives O(n + m).

Application

  1. Bellman–Ford relaxes all m edges for at most n − 1 main passes. Its dominant work is therefore m(n − 1), which is O(mn), so a maps to 3.

  2. Kruskal’s algorithm sorts the m edges and then performs near-linear disjoint-set operations. Sorting dominates: O(m log m), conventionally written as O(m log n) for a simple graph, so b maps to 1.

  3. Floyd–Warshall uses three nested loops over the vertices—intermediate, source, and destination. This performs O(n3) work, so c maps to 2.

  4. Topological sorting by DFS or Kahn’s algorithm processes each vertex and each edge a constant number of times. Its time is O(n + m), so d maps to 4.

Cross-check

The dominant-work pattern independently reproduces all four codes:

Algorithm

Dominant work

Code

Bellman–Ford algorithm

Repeated full edge scans

3

Kruskal’s algorithm

Sorting the edge list

1

Floyd–Warshall algorithm

Three vertex loops

2

Topological sorting

One vertex-and-edge traversal

4

Therefore, the required matching is a–3, b–1, c–2, d–4.

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