Binary Search and The Fake Coin Puzzle

Algorithmically Speaking - #10: What most people know about binary search, the true power of mastering it, and an interesting puzzle for your brain.

Hello there, and welcome to a new edition of Algorithmically Speaking!

Today we are going to be talking about binary search. I know you probably know about it already, but… do you?

I’ve met several software engineers working on some of the best companies in the world that still don’t know how to use binary search properly.

Believe it or not, most people think that the only application of binary search is to look for an element on a sorted array. And, while that might be one of the most used applications, it is certainly not the only one.

Stick around to discover why binary search is important and learn how to use it in the most general case. Here’s what we will cover today:

• 🧭 What Most People Know About Binary Search — an introduction to the most common use of binary search.

• ⭐ The True Power of Binary Search — a comprehensive guide to when and how to apply binary search beyond its most common use case.

• 💰 A Puzzle with Coins — a programming puzzle for you to apply what you learn today.