An algorithm repeatedly processes a dataset. If a potential function, defined as the sum of unprocessed data elements, strictly decreases with each iteration, which consequence follows?

💡 Explanation

The algorithm must eventually terminate because a strictly decreasing potential function that is bounded below cannot decrease indefinitely; this is the essence of the Invariant method. Therefore, termination is guaranteed rather than indefinite looping, which would violate the decreasing potential function requirement.

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