Heap Sort Algorithm in DSA Javascript - Practice Problems & Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of Heap Sort on a small array

What is the output of the following JavaScript code that uses heap sort to sort an array?

DSA Javascript

function heapify(arr, n, i) {
  let largest = i;
  let left = 2 * i + 1;
  let right = 2 * i + 2;

  if (left < n && arr[left] > arr[largest]) {
    largest = left;
  }

  if (right < n && arr[right] > arr[largest]) {
    largest = right;
  }

  if (largest !== i) {
    [arr[i], arr[largest]] = [arr[largest], arr[i]];
    heapify(arr, n, largest);
  }
}

function heapSort(arr) {
  let n = arr.length;

  for (let i = Math.floor(n / 2) - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    heapify(arr, n, i);
  }

  for (let i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
    [arr[0], arr[i]] = [arr[i], arr[0]];
    heapify(arr, i, 0);
  }
}

let array = [4, 10, 3, 5, 1];
heapSort(array);
console.log(array.join(' -> ') + ' -> null');

A 1 -> 4 -> 3 -> 5 -> 10 -> null

B 10 -> 5 -> 4 -> 3 -> 1 -> null

C 1 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 10 -> null

D 5 -> 10 -> 4 -> 3 -> 1 -> null

💡 Hint

Heap sort sorts the array in ascending order by building a max heap first.

Heap sort first builds a max heap, then repeatedly swaps the root with the last element and heapifies the reduced heap. The final array is sorted ascending.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding heapify in heap sort

In the heap sort algorithm, what is the main purpose of the heapify function?

A To build a max heap by ensuring the subtree rooted at a given index satisfies the heap property

B To swap the first and last elements of the array

C To sort the array by comparing adjacent elements

D To reverse the array after sorting

💡 Hint

Heapify fixes the heap property starting from a node downwards.

Heapify ensures that the subtree rooted at a given index is a max heap by comparing the node with its children and swapping if needed.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in this heap sort code snippet

What error will this JavaScript code produce when running heap sort?

DSA Javascript

function heapify(arr, n, i) {
  let largest = i;
  let left = 2 * i + 1;
  let right = 2 * i + 2;

  if (left < n && arr[left] < arr[largest]) {
    largest = left;
  }

  if (right < n && arr[right] < arr[largest]) {
    largest = right;
  }

  if (largest !== i) {
    [arr[i], arr[largest]] = [arr[largest], arr[i]];
    heapify(arr, n, largest);
  }
}

function heapSort(arr) {
  let n = arr.length;

  for (let i = Math.floor(n / 2) - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    heapify(arr, n, i);
  }

  for (let i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
    [arr[0], arr[i]] = [arr[i], arr[0]];
    heapify(arr, i, 0);
  }
}

let array = [4, 10, 3, 5, 1];
heapSort(array);
console.log(array.join(' -> ') + ' -> null');

A The array will be sorted in descending order instead of ascending

B SyntaxError due to incorrect swap syntax

C The array will remain unsorted

D TypeError because heapify is called with wrong arguments

💡 Hint

Check the comparison operators in heapify function.

The heapify function uses '<' instead of '>' which builds a min heap, causing the array to be sorted descending.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Heap sort output with duplicate elements

What is the output of the following heap sort code when sorting an array with duplicates?

DSA Javascript

function heapify(arr, n, i) {
  let largest = i;
  let left = 2 * i + 1;
  let right = 2 * i + 2;

  if (left < n && arr[left] > arr[largest]) {
    largest = left;
  }

  if (right < n && arr[right] > arr[largest]) {
    largest = right;
  }

  if (largest !== i) {
    [arr[i], arr[largest]] = [arr[largest], arr[i]];
    heapify(arr, n, largest);
  }
}

function heapSort(arr) {
  let n = arr.length;

  for (let i = Math.floor(n / 2) - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    heapify(arr, n, i);
  }

  for (let i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
    [arr[0], arr[i]] = [arr[i], arr[0]];
    heapify(arr, i, 0);
  }
}

let array = [4, 10, 3, 10, 5, 1];
heapSort(array);
console.log(array.join(' -> ') + ' -> null');

A 10 -> 10 -> 5 -> 4 -> 3 -> 1 -> null

B 1 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 10 -> 10 -> null

C 1 -> 3 -> 4 -> 10 -> 5 -> 10 -> null

D 1 -> 4 -> 3 -> 5 -> 10 -> 10 -> null

💡 Hint

Heap sort handles duplicates by sorting them in ascending order.

Heap sort sorts the array ascending including duplicates, so duplicates appear next to each other in sorted order.

🚀 Application

expert

Heap sort time complexity analysis

What is the time complexity of heap sort in the worst case and why?

A O(n^2) because heapify is called n times and each call takes O(n)

B O(n) because the array is sorted in a single pass

C O(log n) because heapify is a logarithmic operation

D O(n log n) because building the heap takes O(n) and each of the n removals takes O(log n)

💡 Hint

Consider the cost of building the heap and the cost of extracting elements.

Building the heap is O(n), and each of the n removals requires O(log n) heapify calls, totaling O(n log n).

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the heap in the Heap Sort algorithm?

easy

A. To reverse the array elements

B. To store elements in sorted order permanently

C. To count the number of elements in the array

D. To efficiently find and remove the largest (or smallest) element

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand heap property

   A heap is a special tree-based structure that allows quick access to the largest (max-heap) or smallest (min-heap) element.

2. Step 2: Role in Heap Sort

   Heap Sort uses the heap to repeatedly extract the largest element and place it at the end, sorting the array.

3. Final Answer:

   To efficiently find and remove the largest (or smallest) element -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Heap = fast max/min access [OK]

Hint: Heap helps quickly get max or min element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking heap stores sorted elements permanently
• Confusing heap with simple array storage
• Assuming heap reverses the array

2. Which of the following is the correct way to swap two elements arr[i] and arr[j] in JavaScript during Heap Sort?

easy

A. let temp = arr[i]; arr[i] = arr[j]; arr[j] = temp;

B. arr[i], arr[j] = arr[j], arr[i];

C. swap(arr[i], arr[j]);

D. arr[i] = arr[j]; arr[j] = arr[i];

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand JavaScript swap syntax

   JavaScript does not support tuple unpacking like Python, so swapping requires a temporary variable.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   let temp = arr[i]; arr[i] = arr[j]; arr[j] = temp; uses a temporary variable correctly. arr[i], arr[j] = arr[j], arr[i]; is Python syntax, swap(arr[i], arr[j]); is undefined function, arr[i] = arr[j]; arr[j] = arr[i]; overwrites values incorrectly.

3. Final Answer:

   let temp = arr[i]; arr[i] = arr[j]; arr[j] = temp; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use temp variable to swap [OK]

Hint: Use temp variable to swap in JS [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using Python-style tuple swap in JS
• Calling undefined swap function
• Overwriting values without temp variable

3. What will be the output array after applying Heap Sort on [4, 10, 3, 5, 1]?

medium

A. [1, 3, 4, 5, 10]

B. [10, 5, 4, 3, 1]

C. [1, 4, 3, 5, 10]

D. [5, 10, 4, 3, 1]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Heap Sort output

   Heap Sort sorts the array in ascending order by default.

2. Step 2: Sort the array

   Sorting [4, 10, 3, 5, 1] gives [1, 3, 4, 5, 10].

3. Final Answer:

   [1, 3, 4, 5, 10] -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Sorted ascending = [1, 3, 4, 5, 10] [OK]

Hint: Heap Sort outputs sorted ascending array [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing heap structure with final sorted array
• Thinking output is descending by default
• Mixing up original and sorted arrays

4. Identify the error in this Heap Sort snippet:

function heapSort(arr) {
  let n = arr.length;
  for (let i = Math.floor(n / 2); i >= 0; i--) {
    heapify(arr, n, i);
  }
  for (let i = n - 1; i > 0; i--) {
    let temp = arr[0];
    arr[0] = arr[i];
    arr[i] = temp;
    heapify(arr, i, 0);
  }
}

medium

A. Swapping elements is done incorrectly

B. The first for loop should start from Math.floor(n / 2) - 1

C. The second for loop should start from i = 0

D. heapify function is called with wrong parameters

Solution

1. Step 1: Check heap building loop

   The first loop builds the heap and should start from the last non-leaf node at index Math.floor(n / 2) - 1, not Math.floor(n / 2).

2. Step 2: Verify other parts

   The second loop and swapping are correct. heapify parameters are also correct.

3. Final Answer:

   The first for loop should start from Math.floor(n / 2) - 1 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Heap build starts at last non-leaf node [OK]

Hint: Heap build starts at floor(n/2)-1 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Starting heap build loop at wrong index
• Incorrect swap logic
• Wrong heapify parameters

5. Given an array [12, 11, 13, 5, 6, 7], how many times will the heapify function be called during the entire Heap Sort process?

hard

A. 6 times

B. 10 times

C. 13 times

D. 15 times

Solution

1. Step 1: Count heapify calls during heap build

   Heap build calls heapify top-level from index floor(n/2)-1=2 down to 0 (3 top-level). For this array, heapify(6,0) recurses once to heapify(6,2), total 4 calls.

2. Step 2: Count heapify calls during sorting

   After building heap, heapify called top-level 5 times (i=5 to 1). Tracing: i=5:2 calls, i=4:2, i=3:2, i=2:2, i=1:1, total 9 calls.

3. Step 3: Total calls

   Total heapify calls = 4 (build) + 9 (sort) = 13.

4. Final Answer:

   13 times -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   Heapify calls = build + sort + recursive calls = 13 [OK]

Hint: Count build + sort + recursive heapify calls =13 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Counting only build or only sort calls
• Ignoring recursive heapify calls
• Assuming heapify called once per element