Top 20 Algorithm Questions Gate 2026

Top 20 Algorithm Questions for GATE 2026

Time Complexity & Big-O Analysis
Understand how to analyze the running time of algorithms and compare growth rates.
#TimeComplexity #BigO #AsymptoticAnalysis

Divide and Conquer Algorithms
Questions on Merge Sort, Quick Sort, and recurrence relations.
#DivideAndConquer #MergeSort #QuickSort #Recurrence

Master Theorem Applications
Solve recurrence relations efficiently using the Master Theorem.
#MasterTheorem #RecurrenceRelation #AlgorithmAnalysis

Greedy Algorithms & Correctness
Problems testing greedy choice property and optimal substructure.
#GreedyAlgorithms #OptimalSolution #Strategy

Dynamic Programming Basics
Questions on overlapping subproblems and memoization/tabulation.
#DynamicProgramming #DP #Optimization

Classic DP Problems
Like Knapsack, Matrix Chain Multiplication, LIS, etc.
#Knapsack #MatrixChain #LIS #DPProblems

Graph Traversal – BFS & DFS
Applications, complexity, and traversal properties.
#Graphs #BFS #DFS #Traversal

Shortest Path Algorithms
Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, and Floyd-Warshall questions.
#ShortestPath #Dijkstra #BellmanFord #FloydWarshall

Minimum Spanning Tree Algorithms
Kruskal and Prim concepts and complexity.
#MST #Kruskal #Prim #GraphAlgorithms

Topological Sorting & DAGs
Order of tasks and cycle detection in directed graphs.
#TopologicalSort #DAG #GraphTheory

Hashing & Collision Handling
Hash functions, chaining, open addressing, and complexity.
#Hashing #DataStructures #CollisionHandling

Search Algorithms & Complexity
Linear search, binary search, and variations.
#Searching #BinarySearch #Algorithms

Sorting Algorithms & Stability
Compare sorting algorithms based on time, space, and stability.
#Sorting #StableSort #AlgorithmComparison

Backtracking Algorithms
N-Queens, Sudoku solving, permutations, etc.
#Backtracking #Recursion #ProblemSolving

String Matching Algorithms
Naive, KMP, Rabin-Karp concepts and complexity.
#StringMatching #KMP #RabinKarp #PatternMatching

Amortized Analysis
Potential method and aggregate method applications.
#AmortizedAnalysis #AlgorithmCost #AdvancedAlgorithms

Binary Trees & Traversals
Preorder, inorder, postorder – complexity & application.
#BinaryTree #TreeTraversal #DataStructures

Heap & Priority Queue Algorithms
Heap operations and heap sort concepts.
#Heap #PriorityQueue #HeapSort

NP-Completeness & Reductions
P vs NP basics, NP-hard, NP-complete concepts.
#NPComplete #NPHard #ComputationalComplexity

Algorithm Design Techniques Overview
Understanding when to apply greedy, DP, divide-and-conquer, or backtracking.
#AlgorithmDesign #ProblemSolving #GATE2026