CSC 216/s08/make plans

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Understanding Binary Trees

Binary Trees are a new concept and it is important to have a solid understanding of binary trees and how to traverse them before moving onto binary search trees.

The problem

You are given a stack of circles having either a letter or a number in the center of each. You have no knowledge of how to order them. The professor will give you a list of numbers and a list of letters. Depending upon which stack type you are given, you have must order them properly. You have 2 minutes to do so.

Participants and props

There will be 4 groups of 3 at the front of the room. The activity is timed.

You will be given a stack of circles with velcro backing. One stack will have a single letter on each circle. The letter stacks will be given to two of the four groups. One stack will have a single number on each circle. The number stacks will be given to the remaining two groups.

The script

You are pitted against a classmate on the opposing team and the object is to order the given list of letters and numbers. One of the three ways of traversal, Preorder Traversal, Inorder Traversal, and Postorder Traversal, will be given and you must order the circles as quickly as possible. The exercise is repeated for the other 2 members of the group, one using Inorder traversal, and the other using Postorder traversal. Times for each of the 3 runs are tallied, and the winners get 1 bonus point on the next test.

The point of this exercise is not to be told what each of the 3 traversal types are. Mistakes and confusion are expected and this is important because the exercise to be discussed with the class and each person can see if their guess on how to do it worked.