1. CE 221 Data Structures and Algorithms
Chapter 4: Trees (AVL Trees)
Text: Read Weiss, §4.4
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2. Definition of AVL
An AVL tree is indeed a BST with every node satisfying the property that the heights of left and right subtrees can differ only by one

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AVL Trees
An AVL (Adelson-Velskii and Landis) tree is a binary search tree with a balance condition. It must be easy to maintain, and must ensure that the depth of the tree is O (log N).
Idea 1: left and
right subtrees are
of the same height
(not shallow).
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4. Balance Condition for AVL Trees
Idea 2: Every node must have left and right subtrees of the same height. The height of an empty tree is -1 (Only perfectly balanced trees with 2k-1 nodes would satisfy).
The tree on the left is
an AVL tree.
The height info is kept
for each node.
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5. 3 4
n(1)
n(2)
Height of an AVL Tree
Fact: The height of an AVL tree storing n keys is O(log n).
Proof: Let us bound n(h): the minimum number of internal nodes of an AVL tree of height h.
We easily see that n(1) = 1 and n(2) = 2
For n > 2, an AVL tree of height h contains the root node, one AVL subtree of height n-1 and another of height n-2.
That is, n(h) = 1 + n(h-1) + n(h-2)
Knowing n(h-1) > n(h-2), we get n(h) > 2n(h-2). So
n(h) > 2n(h-2), n(h) > 4n(h-4), n(h) > 8n(n-6), … (by induction),
n(h) > 2in(h-2i)
Solving the base case we get: n(h) > 2 h/2-1
Taking logarithms: h < 2log n(h) +2
Thus the height of an AVL tree is O(log n)

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Height of an AVL Tree - I
For an AVL Tree with N nodes, the height is at most 1.44log(N+2)
In practice it is slightly more than log N.
Example: An AVL tree of height 9 with fewest nodes (143).
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7. The Height of an AVL Tree - II
The minimum number of nodes, S(h), in an AVL tree of height h is given by S(0)=1, S(1)=2,
S(h) = S(h-1) + S(h-2) +1
Recall Fibonacci Numbers? (F(0) = F(1) = 1, F(n)=F(n-1) + F(n-2))
Claim: S(h) = F(h+2) -1 for all h ≥ 0.
Proof: By induction. Base cases; S(0)=1=F(2)-1=2-1, S(1)=2=F(3)-1=3-1. Assume by inductive hypothesis that claim holds for all heights k ≤ h. Then,
S(h+1) = S(h) + S(h-1) + 1
= F(h+2) -1 +F(h+1) (by inductive hypothesis)
= F(h+3) – 1
We also know that
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8. The Height of an AVL Tree - III
Thus, all the AVL tree operations can be performed in O (log N) time. We will assume lazy deletions. Except possibly insertion (update all the balancing information and keep it balanced)
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AVL Tree Insertion
Example: Let’s try to insert 6 into the AVL tree below. This would destroy the AVL property of the tree. Then this property has to be restored before the insertion step is considered over.
It turns out that this can always be done with a simple modification to the tree known as rotation. After an insertion, only the nodes that are on the path from the insertion point to the root might have their balance altered. As we follow the path up to the root and update the
balancing information there may exist
nodes whose new balance violates the
AVL condition. We will prove that our
rebalancing scheme performed once
at the deepest such node works. 6
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10. node to be balanced α

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AVL Tree Rotations
Let’s call the node to be balanced α. Since any node has at most 2 children, and a height imbalance requires that α‘s 2 subtrees’ height differ by 2. There are four cases to be considered for a violation:
An insertion into left subtree of the left child of α. (LL)
An insertion into right subtree of the left child of α. (LR)
An insertion into left subtree of the right child of α. (RL)
An insertion into right subtree of the right child of α. (RR)
Cases 1 and 4 are mirror image symmetries with respect to α, as are Cases 2 and 3. Consequently; there are 2 basic cases.
Case I (LL, RR) (insertion occurs on the outside) is fixed by a single rotation.
Case II (RL, LR) (insertion occurs on the inside) is fixed by double rotation.
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Single Rotation (LL)
Let k2 be the first node on the path up violating AVL balance property. Figure below is the only possible scenario that allows k2 to satisfy the AVL property before the insertion but violate it afterwards. Subtree X has grown an extra level (2 levels deeper than Z now). Y cannot be at the same level as X (k2 then out of balance before insertion) and Y cannot be at the same level as Z (then k1 would be the first to violate).
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Single Rotation (RR)
Note that in single rotation inorder traversal orders of the nodes are preserved.
The new height of the subtree is exactly the same as before. Thus no further updating of the nodes on the path to the root is needed.
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14. Single Rotation-Example I
AVL property destroyed by insertion of 6, then fixed by a single rotation.
BST node structure needs an additional field for height.
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15. Single Rotation-Example II
Start with an initially empty tree and insert items 1 through 7 sequentially. Dashed line joins the two nodes that are the subject of the rotation.
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16. Single Rotation-Example III
Insert 6. Balance problem at the root. So a single rotation is performed.
Finally, Insert 7 causing another rotation.
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17. Double Rotation (LR, RL) - I
The algorithm that works for cases 1 and 4 (LL, RR) does not work for cases 2 and 3 (LR, RL). The problem is that subtree Y is too deep, and a single rotation does not make it any less deep.
The fact that subtree Y has had an item inserted into it guarantees that it is nonempty. Assume it has a root and two subtrees.
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18. Double Rotation (LR) - II
Below are 4 subtrees connected by 3 nodes. Note that exactly one of tree B or C is 2 levels deeper than D (unless all empty). To rebalance, k3 cannot be root and a rotation between k1 and k3 was shown not to work. So the only alternative is to place k2 as the new root. This forces k1 to be k2’s left child and k3 to be its right child. It also completely determines the locations of all 4 subtrees. AVL balance property is now satisfied. Old height of the tree is restored; so, all the balancing and and height updating is complete.
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19. Double Rotation (RL) - III
In both cases (LR and RL), the effect is the same as rotating between α’s child and grandchild and then between α and its new child. Every double rotation can be modelled in terms of 2 single rotations. Inorder traversal orders are always preserved between k1, k2, and k3.
Double RL = Single LL (α->right)+ Single RR (α)
Double LR = Single RR (α->left)+ Single LL (α )
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20. Double Rotation Example - I
Continuing our example, suppose keys 8 through 15 are inserted in reverse order. Inserting 15 is easy but inserting 14 causes a height imbalance at node 7. The double rotation is an RL type and involves 7, 15, and 14.
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21. Double Rotation Example - II
insert 13: double rotation is RL that will involve 6, 14, and 7 and will restore the tree.
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22. Double Rotation Example - III
If 12 is now inserted, there is an imbalance at the root. Since 12 is not between 4 and 7, we know that the single rotation RR will work.
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23. Double Rotation Example - IV
Insert 11: single rotation LL; insert 10: single rotation LL; insert 9: single rotation LL; insert 8: without a rotation.
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24. Double Rotation Example - V
Insert 8½: double rotation LR. Nodes 8, 8½, 9 are involved.
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25. Implementation Issues - I
To insert a new node with key X into an AVL tree T, we recursively insert X into the appropriate subtree of T (let us call this TLR). If the height of TLR does not change, then we are done. Otherwise, if a height imbalance appears in T, we do the appropriate single or double rotation depending on X and the keys in T and TLR, update the heights (making the connection from the rest of the tree above), and are done.
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26. Implementation Issues - II
Another efficiency issue concerns storage of the height information. Since all that is really required is the difference in height, which is guaranteed to be small, we could get by with two bits (to represent +1, 0, -1) if we really try. Doing so will avoid repetitive calculation of balance factors but results in some loss of clarity. The resulting code is somewhat more complicated than if the height were stored at each node.
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27. Implementation Issues - III
First, the declarations. Also, a quick function to return the height of a node dealing with the annoying case of a NULL pointer.
typedef int ElementType;
struct AvlNode;
typedef struct AvlNode *Position;
typedef struct AvlNode *AvlTree;
struct AvlNode {
ElementType Element;
AvlTree Left;
AvlTree Right;
int Height; };
static int Height( Position P ) {
if( P == NULL )
return -1;
else
return P->Height; }
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Implementation - LL
/* This function can be called only if K2 has */
/* a left child. Perform a rotate between */
/* a node (K2) and its left child. Update heights, */
/* then return new root */
static Position SingleRotateWithLeft( Position K2 ){
Position K1;
K1 = K2->Left;
K2->Left = K1->Right;
K1->Right = K2;
K2->Height=Max(Height(K2->Left), Height(K2->Right))+1;
K1->Height=Max(Height(K1->Left), K2->Height)+1;
return K1; /* New root */ }
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Implementation - RR
/* This function can be called only if K1 has */
/* a right child. Perform a rotate between */
/* a node (K1) and its right child. Update heights, */
/* then return new root */
static Position SingleRotateWithRight( Position K1 ) {
Position K2;
K2 = K1->Right;
K1->Right = K2->Left;
K2->Left = K1;
K1->Height=Max(Height(K1->Left), Height(K1->Right))+1;
K2->Height=Max(Height(K2->Right), K1->Height)+1;
return K2; /* New root */ }
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Implementation - LR
/* Double LR = Single RR (α->left)+ Single LL (α ) */
/* This function can be called only if K3 has a left */
/* child and K3's left child has a right child */
/* Do the left-right double rotation */
/* Update heights, then return new root */
static Position DoubleRotateWithLeft( Position K3 ){
/* Rotate between K1 and K2 */
K3->Left = SingleRotateWithRight( K3->Left );
/* Rotate between K3 and K2 */
return SingleRotateWithLeft( K3 ); }
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Implementation - RL
/* Double RL = Single LL (α->right)+ Single RR (α) */
/* This function can be called only if K1 has a right */
/* child and K1's right child has a left child */
/* Do the right-left double rotation */
/* Update heights, then return new root */
static Position DoubleRotateWithRight( Position K1 ){
/* Rotate between K3 and K2 */
K1->Right = SingleRotateWithLeft( K1->Right );
/* Rotate between K1 and K2 */
return SingleRotateWithRight( K1 ); }
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AvlTree Insert( ElementType X, AvlTree T ){
if( T == NULL ){
/* Create and return a one-node tree */
T = malloc( sizeof( struct AvlNode ) );
if( T == NULL )
FatalError( "Out of space!!!" );
else {
T->Element = X; T->Height = 0;
T->Left = T->Right = NULL; }
else if( X < T->Element ){
T->Left = Insert( X, T->Left );
if( Height( T->Left ) - Height( T->Right ) == 2 )
if( X < T->Left->Element )
T = SingleRotateWithLeft( T ); /* LL */
else
T = DoubleRotateWithLeft( T ); /* LR */
} /* continued on the next slide */ /* ... */
Implementation Insertion - I
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33. Implementation – Insertion II
else if( X > T->Element ){
T->Right = Insert( X, T->Right );
if( Height( T->Right ) - Height( T->Left ) == 2 )
if( X > T->Right->Element )
T = SingleRotateWithRight( T ); /* RR */
else
T = DoubleRotateWithRight( T ); /* RL */ }
/* Else X is in the tree already; we'll do nothing */
T->Height=Max(Height(T->Left),Height(T->Right))+1;
return T;
Implementation Insertion - II
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AVL Tree Deletion* - I
AvlTree Delete( ElementType X, AvlTree T ){
if( T == NULL )
Error("Item not Found);
else if( X < T->Element ){
T->Left = Delete( X, T->Left );
if( Height( T->Left ) - Height( T->Right ) == -2 )
if( Height(T->Right->Right) > Height(T->Right->Left) )
T = SingleRotateWithRight( T ); /* RR */
else
T = DoubleRotateWithRight( T ); /* RL */ }
else if( X > T->Element ){
T->Right = Delete( X, T->Right );
if( Height( T->Right ) - Height( T->Left ) == -2 )
if( Height(T->Left->Left) > Height(T->Left->Right) )
T = SingleRotateWithLeft( T ); /* LL */
T = DoubleRotateWithLeft( T ); /* LR */
} /* Continued on the next slide */ /* ... */
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AVL Tree Deletion* - II
else if( T->Left && T->Right ){ /* Found with two children */
/* Replace with smallest in right subtree */
TmpCell = FindMin( T->Right );
T->Element = TmpCell->Element;
T->Right = Delete( T->Element, T->Right );
if( Height( T->Right ) - Height( T->Left ) == -2 )
if( Height(T->Left->Left) > Height(T->Left->Right) )/*LL*/
T = SingleRotateWithLeft( T );
else
T = DoubleRotateWithLeft( T ); /*LR*/ }
else { /* Found with one or zero child */
TmpCell = T;
T = T->Left ? T->Left : T->Right; /* Also handles 0 child */
free( TmpCell );
if( T!= NULL )
T->Height=Max(Height(T->Left), Height(T->Right))+1;
return T;
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Homework Assignments
4.18, 4.19, 4.25
You are requested to study and solve the exercises. Note that these are for you to practice only. You are not to deliver the results to me.
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