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Median number of comparisons used by insertion sort on n (distinct) elements.
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%I #3 Dec 16 2016 16:23:35

%S 0,1,3,5,8,11,15,19,24,30,36,42,49,56,64,73,82,91,101,111,122,134,146,

%T 158,171,185

%N Median number of comparisons used by insertion sort on n (distinct) elements.

%C The frequencies of the number of comparisons are given by sequence A129178, so if Sum_{k=0..i-1} A129178(n,k) < n!/2 and Sum_{k=0..i} A129178(n,k) > n!/2, then the median is entry i, which corresponds to n(n-1)/2-i comparisons.

%C Close to average number of comparisons: A159324(n)/n!

%e For n=3, permutations 123,132,213,231,312,321 require 3,3,3,2,3,2 comparisons respectively, so the median is 3.

%Y Cf. A129178, A159323, A159324.

%K nonn

%O 1,3

%A Harmen Wassenaar (towr(AT)ai.rug.nl), Apr 10 2009