On the Expected Lengths of Sequences Generated in Sorting by Replacement Selecting In the replacement-selecting technique of sorting, one is interested in the ratio L(j) of the expected length of the j-th sequence generated by the technique to the number of memory cells used. Using complex-variable theory, it is shown that L(j) -> 2 and that, asymptotically, the average interval between sign changes of L(j)-2 is 2.6662. CACM July, 1969 Hooker, W. W. replacement selecting, sorting, sequence lengths, asymptotic expected length, recursion relation, generating function, meromorphic function 3.74 5.31 CA690713 JB February 15, 1978 6:37 PM 1867 4 1867 2272 4 1867 1638 5 1867 1867 5 1867 1867 5 1867 1867 5 1867