A pivot element to partition unsorted list is used in a. Bubble Sort b. Merge Sort c. Quick Sort d. Selection Sort e. Binary Search

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the purpose of a pivot element in sorting and searching algorithms.
2. Analyze which algorithm employs a pivot element as part of its partitioning process.

Relevant Concepts

• Pivot Element: A value used in certain algorithms to divide or partition a dataset into smaller subsets.
• Sorting Algorithms: Different algorithms have various techniques for sorting data.

Analysis and Detail

1. Bubble Sort: This algorithm does not use a pivot; it repeatedly swaps adjacent elements if they are in the wrong order.
2. Merge Sort: Merge Sort divides the list into halves but does not use a pivot element; it merges sorted halves.
3. Quick Sort: This algorithm explicitly uses a pivot element to partition the array into elements less than and greater than the pivot, which is key to its efficiency.
4. Selection Sort: Selection Sort finds the minimum (or maximum) element and moves it to the sorted portion but does not use a pivot for partitioning.
5. Binary Search: This is a search algorithm that does not sort but instead finds the position of a target value in a sorted array, using a middle element (not a pivot for partitioning).

Verify and Summarize

The only algorithm from the options that employs a pivot element to partition an unsorted list is Quick Sort.

Final Answer

c. Quick Sort