Union/find algorithm without union by rank for disjoint-set forests data structure

Question

Here\'s a breakdown on the union/find algorithm for disjoint set forests on wikipedia:

• Barebone disjoint-set forests... (O(n))
  • ... with unio

Answer 1

Path compression flattens the tree structure. Union by rank helps to merge. Assume that you skip the latter. So now, you have a forest with no rank information to choose how to merge. Potentially, you now run the risk of merging a tree with a larger depth to one with a smaller depth -- leading to an unbalanced tree structure. In the worst case, you may end up with a linked list. Your Union's amortized time complexity increases even if that for Find remains the same.

IMO, It'd be better to skip path compression but not rank.