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pyuntae
pyuntae

Reputation: 832

Can a tree node be both a root node and a leaf node?

Can a tree node be both a root node and leaf node? If so, why?

I understand that the root node is at Level 0 of the tree. I also understand that a leaf node is a tree node that has no children. So if a tree has a root node A and nothing else, would that root node A also be considered a leaf node?

Is it possible for a tree node to be both a root node and leaf node?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 3842

Answers (3)

robotlos
robotlos

Reputation: 536

From this Wikipedia link on Tree Data Structures, section Terminologies used in Trees:

  • Root – The top node in a tree.
  • Leaf – A node with no children.

    So by definition, if a Tree structure only consists of a single Node, that single Node will in fact be both a Root and a Leaf. Read the link for further detail.

    Now, whether your professor considers this to be correct is a whole 'nother story.

    Upvotes: 5

    • Jonny Henly
    Jonny Henly

    Reputation: 4213

    If a tree node can have both a root node and leaf node, why?

    You answered your own question:

    I understand that the root node is at Level 0 of the tree. I also understand that a leaf node is a tree node that has no children.

    Here's a diagram for better understanding: 

      root
   |
tree node
   |
leaf node

    So if a tree node had a root node of A and nothing else, would that be considered a leaf node also?

    Refer to your definition directly above. Diagram for better understanding:

    A - root node
    |
 tree node   <-- tree node & leaf node
    |
  (null)

    It is possible and how is it possible for a tree node to be both a root node and leaf node?

    If you consider the root node to be a tree node, then a root node with no children will be both a tree node and leaf node.

    Upvotes: 3

    f1sh
    f1sh

    Reputation: 11934

    If a tree node can have both a root node and leaf node, why

    If a node is somewhere in between the root and a leaf, it has both a root node and a leaf under it.

    how is it possible for a tree node to be both a root node and leaf node?

    If the tree only consists of one node, that node is both the root and a leaf.

    Upvotes: 1

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