How to find elements in bitonic array?

A bitonic array is a special type of array where the elements are first sorted in either ascending or descending order and then sorted in the opposite order. To efficiently search for an element in such an array, the first step involves identifying the bitonic point, denoted as 'k', which marks the index of the maximum element in the sequence.

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Locating the bitonic point is crucial as it divides the array into two monotonic subsequences: one sorted in ascending order and the other in descending order. This partition simplifies the search process by allowing us to apply binary search-like algorithms to each half.

If the element being searched for is greater than the maximum element at the bitonic point, it implies that the element does not exist in the array, as all subsequent elements are smaller due to the bitonic nature. In this case, the search can be immediately terminated, returning -1 to indicate the absence of the element.

However, if the target element is less than or equal to the maximum element, the search proceeds by dividing the array into two halves based on the bitonic point. The choice of which half to search depends on whether the target is closer to the ascending or descending part of the array.