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Computer Science Introduction to Algorithms Algorithms in Code Binary Search in Code

Posted by Ingrid Davis
Ingrid Davis
4,000 Points

Confused on looping back through after 'first' becomes 5

I understand that the first becomes 5 in the elif statement. Then we loop back through with our new first value. I don't understand how we arrive at 6 for the midpoint value. If 5(first) + 8 (last) = 13 --> //2 then how do we know to round up or down to get 6 as the midpoint?

Any help to further break down this process would be helpful. Thank you!

1 Answer

Joseph Yhu
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Joseph Yhu
PHP Development Techdegree Graduate 48,637 Points

// in python is a floor division operator, i.e. it always rounds down.