Stacks: Implementation and Applications - Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

How can a stack be used to implement a Depth-First Search (DFS) algorithm? Explain the process step-by-step and highlight the benefits of using a stack for this purpose.

Accepted Answer

Depth-First Search (DFS)

Answer

Breadth-First Search (BFS)

Answer

Dijkstra's Algorithm

Answer

Binary Search

Question 2

To optimize stack performance, which strategies can be employed, considering factors such as memory allocation, cache locality, and multi-threading?

Accepted Answer

Utilize memory pools to reduce dynamic memory allocation overhead

Accepted Answer

Enhance cache locality by placing the stack in a contiguous memory region

Accepted Answer

Reduce contention in multi-threaded environments using thread-local storage

Answer

Implement the stack using a doubly linked list for efficient insertions and deletions

Question 3

In a stack data structure, which fundamental operation removes an element from the top?

Accepted Answer

Pop

Answer

Push

Answer

Peek

Answer

Search

Question 4

Considering a stack implemented using an array, what is its push operation's time complexity?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 5

Which common programming scenario utilizes a stack data structure?

Accepted Answer

Tracking function calls

Answer

Storing user preferences

Answer

Searching for keywords in a text

Answer

Sorting an array

Question 6

What distinguishes stacks from queues?

Accepted Answer

Stacks follow LIFO, while queues adhere to FIFO

Answer

Stacks are implemented using arrays, while queues use linked lists

Answer

Stacks are employed for recursion, while queues facilitate iteration

Answer

Stacks have infinite capacity, unlike fixed-size queues

Question 7

Which algorithm commonly utilizes a stack data structure?

Accepted Answer

Depth-first search

Answer

Breadth-first search

Answer

Binary search

Answer

Merge sort

Question 8

Which of the following operations is NOT performed on a stack?

Accepted Answer

Enumerate

Answer

Push

Answer

Pop

Answer

Peek

Question 9

What is the purpose of a peek operation in a stack?

Accepted Answer

To return the top element of the stack without removing it

Answer

To add an element to the top of the stack

Answer

To remove an element from the top of the stack

Answer

To check if the stack is empty

Question 10

Which of the following is a key difference between a stack and a queue?

Accepted Answer

Stacks follow Last-In-First-Out (LIFO), while queues follow First-In-First-Out (FIFO)

Answer

Stacks can be implemented using arrays or linked lists, while queues can only be implemented using arrays

Answer

Stacks are recursive, while queues are not

Answer

Queues are more efficient than stacks

Question 11

What is a typical use case for recursion?

Accepted Answer

Solving problems that can be broken down into smaller subproblems of the same type

Answer

Iterating through a list of elements

Answer

Searching a sorted array

Answer

Performing mathematical calculations

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a stack in a programming language?

Accepted Answer

Providing faster access to all elements

Answer

Simplifying function calls

Answer

Managing memory allocation

Answer

Improving code readability

Question 13

How does an empty stack differ from a null stack?

Accepted Answer

An empty stack has no elements, while a null stack does not exist

Answer

A null stack has no elements, while an empty stack does not exist

Answer

There is no difference between an empty stack and a null stack

Answer

An empty stack can be created, while a null stack cannot

Question 14

Which of the following data structures can be implemented using stacks?

Accepted Answer

Queues

Answer

Linked lists

Answer

Trees

Answer

Graphs

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of a stack in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To store temporary data during function calls

Answer

To manage memory allocation

Answer

To perform mathematical calculations

Answer

To store data for long-term storage

Question 16

Which fundamental operations are performed on a stack?

Accepted Answer

Push, Pop, Peek

Answer

Insert, Delete, Find

Answer

Enqueue, Dequeue, Search

Answer

Read, Write, Execute

Question 17

What is the time complexity of the push operation on a stack?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 18

Which algorithm employs a stack in its implementation?

Accepted Answer

Depth-First Search (DFS)

Answer

Breadth-First Search (BFS)

Answer

Dijkstra's Shortest Path

Answer

Binary Search

Question 19

Which of the following is not an operation of a stack?

Accepted Answer

Traverse

Answer

Push

Answer

Pop

Answer

Peek

Question 20

What is the time complexity of the pop operation in a linked list implementation of a stack?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 21

Which data structure is used to implement the undo/redo functionality in text editors?

Accepted Answer

Stack

Answer

Queue

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Tree

Question 22

Consider a stack implemented using an array with a fixed size. What happens when a push operation is performed on a full stack?

Accepted Answer

The operation fails and an error is thrown

Answer

The operation succeeds and the stack expands

Answer

The operation succeeds but the data is lost

Answer

The operation fails and the stack is emptied

Question 23

What is the primary difference between a stack and a queue?

Accepted Answer

Stacks follow LIFO, queues follow FIFO

Answer

Stacks follow FIFO, queues follow LIFO

Answer

Stacks are dynamic, queues are static

Answer

Queues are dynamic, stacks are static

Question 24

Which of the following is a recursive algorithm that can be implemented using a stack?

Accepted Answer

Depth-first search

Answer

Binary search

Answer

Merge sort

Answer

Breadth-first search

Question 25

Consider a stack implemented using an array with a fixed size. What is the worst-case time complexity of the peek operation?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 26

Which operation is NOT performed on a stack?

Accepted Answer

Enumerate

Answer

Push

Answer

Pop

Answer

Peek

Question 27

What is the time complexity for retrieving an element from a stack implemented using an array?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT an application of stacks?

Accepted Answer

Sorting

Answer

Function calls

Answer

Expression evaluation

Answer

Recursion

Question 29

How do stacks differ from queues?

Accepted Answer

Stacks use LIFO, while queues use FIFO

Answer

Stacks use FIFO, while queues use LIFO

Answer

Stacks are implemented using linked lists, while queues are implemented using arrays

Answer

Queues can handle multiple data types, while stacks cannot

Question 30

What is the role of a stack frame in a recursive function call?

Accepted Answer

To store local variables and the return address

Answer

To prevent stack overflow

Answer

To facilitate memory allocation

Answer

To enhance code readability

Question 31

Which data structure is similar to a stack but allows insertion and deletion from both ends?

Accepted Answer

Deque

Answer

Queue

Answer

Linked list

Answer

Array

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a potential drawback of using a stack?

Accepted Answer

Ease of implementation

Answer

Limited capacity

Answer

Inefficiency for large datasets

Answer

Susceptibility to stack overflow

Question 33

How do stacks facilitate efficient error handling in programming?

Accepted Answer

Allowing backtracking to previous program states

Answer

Storing function parameters for later retrieval

Answer

Managing memory allocation and deallocation

Answer

Enabling concurrent execution of multiple threads

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT an operation of a stack?

Accepted Answer

Add

Answer

Peek

Answer

Pop

Answer

Push

Question 35

What is a common application of stacks?

Accepted Answer

Function calls

Answer

Hashing

Answer

Searching

Answer

Sorting

Question 36

Which of the following data structures is similar to a stack but allows insertion and deletion from both ends?

Accepted Answer

Queue

Answer

LinkedList

Answer

Array

Answer

MinHeap

Question 37

In a postfix notation expression, what does a stack help achieve during evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Operand storage and sequential retrieval

Answer

Operator storage

Answer

Parentheses matching

Answer

Variable lookup

Question 38

Which of the following algorithms uses a stack to perform depth-first search (DFS)?

Accepted Answer

DFS with recursion

Answer

Dijkstra's algorithm

Answer

Selection sort

Answer

Breadth-first search (BFS)

Question 39

Consider a stack implemented using a singly linked list. What is the time complexity of a pop operation?

Accepted Answer

O(1)

Answer

O(n)

Answer

O(log n)

Answer

O(n^2)