The Origin Of The Binary-Search Paradigm

Citation

Manna, Z., & Waldinger, R. (1987). The origin of a binary-search paradigm. Science of Computer Programming, 9(1), 37-83.

Abstract

In a binary-search algorithm for the computation of a numerical function, the interval in which the desired output is sought is divided in half at each iteration. The paper considers how such algorithms might be derived from their specifications by an automatic program-synthesis system. The derivation of the binary-search concept has been found to be surprisingly straightforward. The programs obtained, though reasonably simple and efficient, are quite different from those that would have been constructed by informal means.


Read more from SRI

  • An arid, rural Nevada landscape

    Can AI help us find valuable minerals?

    SRI’s machine learning-based geospatial analytics platform, already adopted by the USGS, is poised to make waves in the mining industry.

  • Two students in a computer lab

    Building a lab-to-market pipeline for education

    The SRI-led LEARN Network demonstrates how we can get the best evidence-based educational programs to classrooms and students.

  • Code reflected in a man's eyeglasses

    LLM risks from A to Z

    A new paper from SRI and Brazil’s Instituto Eldorado delivers a comprehensive update on the security risks to large language models.