In binary search, what does the variable low represent?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

In binary search, the algorithm maintains a search interval within the array and narrows it down by comparing the target to the middle element. 
Option 1: 'The value at the middle index' describes the element itself, often stored as a variable like midValue, but low is not this value; midIndex or mid is used for locating the middle element.
Option 2: 'The lowest index of the search range' correctly identifies low as the lower bound of the current search interval, indicating where the search should start.
Option 3: 'The middle index' corresponds to a separate variable typically named mid; low is not the middle index, so this misstates what low represents.
Option 4: 'The highest index of the search range' would be the upper bound, often called high or upper, which is distinct from low and used together to define the interval.
Option 5: 'The number of elements in the list' is the array size, not the boundary index; low does not store the length.
Option 6: 'The target value' is the value being searched for, whereas low holds an index boundary, not the target itself.
Thus, the statement that aligns with the role of low in binary search is that it marks the lowest index of the current search range.

IS 4485-001 Fall 2025 Final Exam Practice 1

In binary search, what does the variable low represent?

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