About this previous year paper
This document is the B.Tech Semester III (2019–20) Theory Examination question paper for DATA STRUCTURES (KCS301) under Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU).
The exam duration is 3 hours, carries 100 marks, and the question paper is divided into three sections only — SECTION A, SECTION B, and SECTION C.
The uploaded file contains two pages, each clearly showing questions, marks, and CO (Course Outcome) mapping.
SECTION A — Short Answer Questions (10 × 2 = 20 Marks)
Section A contains ten 2-mark questions, each checking quick conceptual understanding of core data structure topics.
The questions include:
Representing a sparse matrix in memory
Listing operations on linked lists
Applications of stack
Meaning of tail recursion
Defining priority queue and giving one application
Working of bubble sort
Explaining minimum cost spanning tree
Difference between adjacency matrix and adjacency list
Defining:
Extended binary tree
Full binary tree
Strictly binary tree
Complete binary tree
Meaning of threaded binary tree
All questions are arranged in a table format on Page 1, with each carrying 2 marks.
SECTION B — Descriptive Questions (Attempt Any 3 × 10 = 30 Marks)
(Page 1, lower section)
Section B contains five long questions, out of which students must attempt any three.
These questions cover:
Differences between iteration and recursion + recursive Tower of Hanoi
Array & linked representation of queue + meaning of dequeue
Warshall’s algorithm (with example)
Dijkstra’s algorithm for shortest path (with graph)
Determining the shortest path in a weighted graph
These questions require detailed explanation, writing algorithms, and applying graph algorithms.
SECTION C — Applied/Numerical/Theory (Q3–Q6, Each 1 × 10 Marks)
(Page 2 of the document)
Section C contains four groups of questions, numbered Q3 to Q6, and for each group the student must attempt one part (a or b).
Q3 — Linked List / Complexity & Notation
Doubly linked list definition, applications, and deletion of an element using C
OR
Short notes on:
Time complexity
Space complexity
Asymptotic notation
Big-O notation
Q4 — Recursion / Queue Representation
Difference between iteration and recursion + Tower of Hanoi recursive solution
OR
Array and linked representation of queue, and dequeue definition
Q5 — Sorting / Hashing
Why quicksort is called "quick"? Steps of quicksort for given numbers:
{25, 57, 48, 37, 12, 92, 86, 33}
(with first element as pivot)
OR
What is hashing? Characteristics of a hash function + collision-resolution techniques
Q6 — Graph Algorithms
Warshall’s algorithm with example
OR
Dijkstra’s algorithm for shortest path from vertex ‘S’
These questions focus on practical implementation and algorithmic understanding.
OVERALL SUMMARY OF THE DOCUMENT
The uploaded Data Structures (KCS301) question paper evaluates a student's understanding of:
Linear & non-linear data structures
Linked lists, stacks, queues
Trees and binary tree types
Graph representations
Sorting algorithms (especially quicksort)
Hashing & collision handling
Complexity analysis
Recursion and Tower of Hanoi
Graph algorithms (Warshall, Dijkstra)
Sparse matrices, spanning trees, priority queues
The structure follows the standard AKTU pattern:
SECTION A: Short conceptual recall
SECTION B: Medium-length descriptive questions
SECTION C: Applied, algorithmic, and numerical questions
The entire paper appears clearly on two pages in a tabular and well-structured format.