Most efficient way to search a sorted matrix?

Question

I have an assignment to write an algorithm (not in any particular language, just pseudo-code) that receives a matrix [size: M x N] that is sorted in a way that all of it\'s

Answer 1

JavaScript solution:

//start from the top right corner
//if value = el, element is found
//if value < el, move to the next row, element can't be in that row since row is sorted
//if value > el, move to the previous column, element can't be in that column since column is sorted

function find(matrix, el) {

  //some error checking
  if (!matrix[0] || !matrix[0].length){
    return false;
  }
  if (!el || isNaN(el)){
    return false;
  }

  var row = 0; //first row
  var col = matrix[0].length - 1; //last column

  while (row < matrix.length && col >= 0) {
    if (matrix[row][col] === el) { //element is found
      return true;
    } else if (matrix[row][col] < el) {
      row++; //move to the next row
    } else {
      col--; //move to the previous column
    }
  }

  return false;

}