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Merge sort is an efficient sorting algorithm that follows the divide-and-conquer approach. It works by dividing the input array into smaller subarrays, recursively sorting those subarrays, and then merging the sorted subarrays back together. The key step is merging where two sorted subarrays are combined into a single sorted array by comparing elements. Merge sort has advantages of consistent O(n log n) time complexity for average, best, and worst cases, making it suitable for large datasets. It is also a stable sorting algorithm. Disadvantages include requiring extra space and not being an in-place algorithm.

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24 views

Advantages

Merge sort is an efficient sorting algorithm that follows the divide-and-conquer approach. It works by dividing the input array into smaller subarrays, recursively sorting those subarrays, and then merging the sorted subarrays back together. The key step is merging where two sorted subarrays are combined into a single sorted array by comparing elements. Merge sort has advantages of consistent O(n log n) time complexity for average, best, and worst cases, making it suitable for large datasets. It is also a stable sorting algorithm. Disadvantages include requiring extra space and not being an in-place algorithm.

Uploaded by

Aubrey Sanchez
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AUBREY C.

SANCHEZ BSIT – 2B DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHMS

Merge sort is a popular sorting algorithm known for its efficiency in sorting lists or arrays. It follows the divide-and-
conquer approach, breaking down the input into smaller parts, sorting those parts, and then merging them back
together in a sorted manner.

Explanation of how merge sort typically works:

1. Divide: The algorithm divides the input array into smaller subarrays until each subarray contains only one element.
This process continues until there's no further way to divide the array.

2. Conquer: Once the array is divided into individual elements (which are inherently sorted), the algorithm starts
merging and sorting adjacent pairs of subarrays. It compares elements from each pair and arranges them in order.

3. Merge: As the sorting progresses, the sorted subarrays are merged back together in a way that maintains the sorted
order. This merging process involves comparing elements from the subarrays and placing them in the correct order into
a new merged array.

4. Repeat and combine: The merging and sorting continue until all the subarrays are merged
back into a single sorted array.

The key step in merge sort is the merging process, where two sorted subarrays are
combined into a single sorted array. This is done by comparing elements from each
subarray and arranging them in the correct order.

Overall, the divide-and-conquer strategy and the merging technique are the core
concepts behind merge sort, allowing it to efficiently sort arrays while maintaining
stability and consistent performance.

Advantages

1. Efficiency: Merge sort has a consistent time complexity of O(n log n) for the average, best, and worst cases. This
efficiency makes it highly suitable for sorting large datasets.

2. Stable Sorting: Merge sort is stable, meaning it maintains the relative order of equal elements. This property is
essential in certain applications where maintaining the original order of equal elements is necessary.

Disadvantages

1. Extra Space: Merge sort requires additional space proportional to the size of the input array for the merging process.
This might be a disadvantage when dealing with very large datasets in memory-constrained environments.

2. Not In-Place: It's not an in-place sorting algorithm. It needs additional memory equal to the size of the input array for
the merging step. Algorithms that are in-place, like QuickSort, might be preferred in situations where memory is a
concern.

I would choose merge sort because of its efficient time complexity and stability making it a strong choice for sorting
large datasets where additional space and non-in-place operations are acceptable. It allows me to organize data without
worrying for larger memory allocation because it caters more data than other sorting algorithms. It is also beneficial for
when you organize data for a short amount of time since it is fast and efficient that it does not waste time.

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