given a hash table t with 25 slots that stores 20000 elements, the load factor alpha for t is?
Understanding Load Factor: A Crucial Concept for Hash Table PerformanceScenario: Imagine you have a spacious closet with 25 shelves your hash table t. You need to store 20,000 items your elements in it. How effectively can you organize these items? This is where the load factor alpha comes into play.Load Factor Explained: Alpha α is a measure of how full your hash table is. Its calculated as the number of elements n divided by the number of slots m in the table. In this case, α n m 20,000 25 800.Why Does Load Factor Matter?A high load factor can lead to: Collisions: Multiple items might need to be stored in the same slot, requiring extra effort like linked lists to handle them. Slow Operations: Searching, inserting, and deleting items become less efficient as collisions increase.Optimal Load Factor:A good load factor keeps your hash table balanced, ensuring efficient operations. The ideal range is usually between 0.7 and 0.8.Your Case:In our example, with a load factor of 800, the hash table t is severely overloaded. This would result in a high number of collisions and slow down operations significantly.Key Takeaway:Understanding load factor is vital for optimizing hash table performance. By keeping it within a reasonable range, you can ensure your data is stored and accessed efficiently.