Tree: Depth-First Search - Maximum Depth of Binary Tree
What is the space complexity of the recursive DFS approach to compute maximum depth of a binary tree with height h?
What is the space complexity of the recursive DFS approach to compute maximum depth of a binary tree with height h?
medium🪤 Complexity Trap Q6 of Q15
Step-by-Step Solution
Solution:
Step 1: Identify recursion stack usage
Recursive DFS uses call stack proportional to tree height h.Step 2: Confirm auxiliary space
No additional data structures used beyond recursion stack, so space is O(h).Final Answer:
Option A -> Option AQuick Check:
Space depends on max recursion depth = tree height [OK]
Quick Trick: Recursive stack depth = tree height h [OK]
Common Mistakes:
MISTAKES- Assuming O(n) space always
- Ignoring recursion stack space
- Confusing height with log n
Trap Explanation:
PITFALL- Candidates often forget recursion stack space, assuming constant or linear space incorrectly.
Interviewer Note:
CONTEXT- Checks understanding of recursion stack space in DFS tree traversal.
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