What technique would you apply to sort 10 integers so that they ascend in value?

Question Analysis

The question is asking about a technique to sort a small list of integers in ascending order. Sorting is a fundamental concept in computer science, and there are multiple algorithms available for sorting data. The key point here is that the list consists of only 10 integers, which suggests that we can choose an algorithm that is straightforward to implement and efficient for small datasets.

Answer

To sort 10 integers in ascending order, you can use the Insertion Sort algorithm. This algorithm is simple, intuitive, and efficient for small datasets like this one. Here's why it's a suitable choice:

• Efficiency: For small arrays, Insertion Sort performs quite well compared to more complex algorithms like Quick Sort or Merge Sort, which are designed for larger datasets.
• Simplicity: The algorithm is easy to understand and implement, making it ideal for a basic sorting task.
• In-place: It requires only a constant amount of additional memory space, as it sorts the array in place.

Insertion Sort Algorithm:

1. Begin with the second element. Compare it with the first element and swap them if necessary.
2. Move to the next element. Compare it with the elements before it and insert it in the correct position.
3. Repeat this process for each element until the entire list is sorted.

Here is a simple implementation in Python:

def insertion_sort(arr):
    for i in range(1, len(arr)):
        key = arr[i]
        j = i - 1
        # Move elements of arr[0..i-1], that are greater than key,
        # to one position ahead of their current position
        while j >= 0 and key < arr[j]:
            arr[j + 1] = arr[j]
            j -= 1
        arr[j + 1] = key

# Example usage
numbers = [34, 7, 23, 32, 5, 62, 32, 12, 24, 9]
insertion_sort(numbers)
print("Sorted numbers:", numbers)

This code will sort the list of 10 integers in ascending order efficiently.