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Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Introduction
  • Introduction to Algorithms Analysis
    • Growth Rates
    • Big-O, Little-o, Theta, Omega
    • Analysis of Linear Search
    • Analysis of Binary Search
  • Recursion
    • The runtime stack
    • How to Write a Recursive Function
      • Example: the Factorial Function
    • Drawbacks of Recursion and Caution
  • Lists
    • Implementation
    • Linked List
      • Nodes
      • Iterator
      • Template Singly Linked List
      • Doubly Linked List
      • Circular Linked List
  • Stacks
    • Stack Operations
    • Stack Implementations
    • Stack Applications
  • Queue
    • Queue Operations
    • Queue Implementations
    • Queue Applications
  • Tables
    • Simple Table
    • Hash Table
      • Bucketing
      • Chaining
      • Linear Probing
      • Quadratic Probing and Double Hashing
  • Sorting
    • Simple Sorts
      • Bubble Sort
      • Insertion Sort
      • Selection Sort
    • Merge Sort
      • Merge Sort Implementation
    • Quick Sort
    • Heap Sort
      • Binary heap
      • Binary heap basics
      • Insertion into a binary heap
      • Delete from a binary heap
      • Implementation
      • Sorting
  • Introduction to Trees, Binary Search Trees
    • Definitions
    • Tree Implementations
    • Binary Trees
    • Binary Search Trees
      • Insertion
      • Removal
      • Traversals
  • AVL Trees
    • Height Balance
    • Insertion
    • Why it works
  • Red Black Trees
    • Insertion Example
  • 2-3 Trees
  • Graphs
    • Representation
  • Complexity Theory
  • Appendix: Mathematics Review
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  1. AVL Trees

Height Balance

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Last updated 5 years ago

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AVL trees work by ensuring that the tree is height balanced after an operation. If we were to have to calculate the height of a tree from any node, we would have to traverse its two subtrees making this impractical. Instead, we store the height balance information of every subtree in its node. Thus, each node must not only maintain its data and children information, but also a height balance value.

The height balance of a node is calculated as follows:

height balance = height of right - height of left
     of node      subtree             subtree

The above formula means that if the right subtree is taller, the height balance of the node will be positive. If the left subtree is taller, the balance of the node will be negative.