An interesting algorithm

[big_bad_al]

So, even before I get to the what the algorithm does (which is quite interesting on its own, even before you find out how it accomplishes that), the very first intriguing part is its name. It's officially referred to as the Blum-Floyd-Pratt-Rivest-Tarjan Algorithm. Is your mouth watering yet? I thought so.1 However, CLRS refers to it as the Select

Comments

[inferno0069]

I believe I actually saw that one in algorithms at Mudd. It'll stay awesome forever, though.

[macdaddyfrosh]

\begin{cage-rattling}
Which Blum? There are $O(n)$ of them.
\end{cage-rattling}

[big_bad_al]

Very astute of you! This was Manuel Blum, which you could have figured out by my reference to CAPTCHAs in the footnote. I do give you all the necessary information, though I had intended to make you work for the details if you wanted them. :-P

[minorninth]

I'm still a little freaked out about how it works best with 5, how often does that happen?

[big_bad_al]

If you're a Discordian, fairly often.