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a(n) is the maximum number of key comparisons required to sort n records with distinct keys using heapsort (Algorithm H in Don Knuth's TAOCP Vol. 3).
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%I #6 Jan 06 2022 08:16:50

%S 1,3,7,12,17,22,29,37,44,51,59,66,73,80

%N a(n) is the maximum number of key comparisons required to sort n records with distinct keys using heapsort (Algorithm H in Don Knuth's TAOCP Vol. 3).

%C There are two places in the algorithm where the keys are compared. The first is in step H4 [Find larger child] and the second in step H6 [Larger than K?]. The sequence shows the maxima of the counts of these comparisons, determined over all n! possible orders of the records.

%C a(16) >= 90.

%D D. E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming Second Edition. Vol. 3, Sorting and Searching. Chapter 5.2.3 Sorting by Selection, Page 145. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1998.

%Y Cf. A350427, A350428.

%Y A350569 contains a table with the maximum and average number of comparisons for the original algorithm and for its modified version.

%K nonn,more

%O 2,2

%A _Hugo Pfoertner_, Jan 05 2022