The best way to calculate the height in a binary search tree? (balancing an AVL-tree)

Part 1 – height

As starblue says, height is just recursive. In pseudo-code:

height(node) = max(height(node.L), height(node.R)) + 1

Now height could be defined in two ways. It could be the number of nodes in the path from the root to that node, or it could be the number of links. According to the page you referenced, the most common definition is for the number of links. In which case the complete pseudo code would be:

height(node): 
   if node == null:
        return -1
   else:
        return max(height(node.L), height(node.R)) + 1

If you wanted the number of nodes the code would be:

height(node): 
   if node == null:
        return 0
   else:
        return max(height(node.L), height(node.R)) + 1

Either way, the rebalancing algorithm I think should work the same.

However, your tree will be much more efficient (O(ln(n))) if you store and update height information in the tree, rather than calculating it each time. (O(n))

Part 2 – balancing

When it says “If the balance factor of R is 1”, it is talking about the balance factor of the right branch, when the balance factor at the top is 2. It is telling you how to choose whether to do a single rotation or a double rotation. In (python like) Pseudo-code:

if balance factor(top) = 2: // right is imbalanced
     if balance factor(R) = 1: // 
          do a left rotation
     else if balance factor(R) = -1:
          do a double rotation
else: // must be -2, left is imbalanced
     if balance factor(L) = 1: // 
          do a left rotation
     else if balance factor(L) = -1:
          do a double rotation

I hope this makes sense