Q10Data Structures

Quadratic probing is a sophisticated open addressing collision resolution strategy. When a primary collision inevitably occurs at hash index $h(k)$, the algorithm does not simply check the immediate next slot. Instead, it systematically probes forward using a quadratic mathematical polynomial sequence: $(h(k)+1^2)(\mathrm{mod}N)$, then $(h(k)+2^2)(\mathrm{mod}N)$, then $(h(k)+3^2)(\mathrm{mod}N)$, effectively eliminating primary clustering issues.