Trees and hierarchical data in Intro to Computing - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a tree in computing?

A tree is a way to organize data where items are connected like branches. It starts with one main item called the root, and from there, it splits into smaller parts called nodes, like branches on a real tree.

beginner

What is a root node?

The root node is the very first node in a tree. It is the starting point from which all other nodes branch out, just like the trunk of a real tree.

beginner

Explain parent and child nodes in a tree.

In a tree, a parent node is a node that has one or more nodes connected below it. These connected nodes are called child nodes. Think of a parent as a boss and children as workers reporting to that boss.

beginner

What is a leaf node?

A leaf node is a node that does not have any children. It is like the tip of a branch on a tree with no smaller branches coming out from it.

intermediate

How is hierarchical data represented using trees?

Hierarchical data is shown as a tree where each level represents a rank or category. The top level is the root, and each lower level shows more detailed parts, like a family tree showing grandparents, parents, and children.

What is the top node of a tree called?

A Root node

B Leaf node

C Child node

D Branch node

The root node is the top node from which all other nodes branch out.

Which node has no children?

A Root node

B Leaf node

C Parent node

D Sibling node

Leaf nodes are nodes without any children, like the ends of branches.

In a tree, what do we call nodes directly connected below a parent node?

A Children

B Siblings

C Roots

D Leaves

Child nodes are directly connected below a parent node.

Which of the following best describes hierarchical data?

A Data arranged randomly

B Data arranged in a flat list

C Data arranged in levels like a tree

D Data arranged in a circle

Hierarchical data is arranged in levels, similar to a tree structure.

What is the relationship between parent and child nodes?

A They are not connected

B They are the same node

C Child node is above parent node

D Parent node is above child node in the tree

Parent nodes are above child nodes in the tree structure.

Describe the main parts of a tree data structure and how they relate to each other.

Think about how a family tree is organized.

Explain how hierarchical data can be visualized using a tree and give a real-life example.

Imagine organizing files on your computer or a family tree.