From 0 to 1 Data Structures & Algorithms in Java - Merge Sort

The video tutorial explains merge sort, a divide and conquer algorithm that breaks a list into smaller sublists, sorts them, and merges them back together. It highlights the use of recursion in merge sort, visualizes the sorting process, and provides a detailed explanation of the code, including helper methods. The tutorial also discusses the time and space complexity of merge sort, noting its efficiency compared to other sorting algorithms.

What is the primary advantage of using merge sort over other sorting algorithms?

• It is more stable.

• It has a better time complexity.

• It is easier to implement.

• It requires less space.

In merge sort, what is the base case for the recursion?

• A sorted list.

• A list of two elements.

• An empty list.

• A list of one element.

During the merge phase of merge sort, what is the main task?

• Dividing the list into smaller parts.

• Finding the midpoint of the list.

• Sorting individual elements.

• Combining sorted lists into a larger sorted list.

What is the first step in the merge sort process?

• Sorting the entire list.

• Finding the midpoint of the list.

• Dividing the list into two halves.

• Merging sorted lists.

How does merge sort handle lists with an odd number of elements during the split phase?

• It ensures the extra element goes to the first list.

• It adds a dummy element.

• It splits the list unevenly.

• It leaves one element unsorted.

Which helper method in merge sort is responsible for dividing the list into smaller parts?

• Merge method.

• Divide method.

• Split method.

• Sort method.

What is the time complexity of merge sort?

• O(n^2)

• O(n log n)

• O(n)

• O(log n)

Why is merge sort considered a stable sorting algorithm?

• It can handle large datasets.

• It is faster than other algorithms.

• It uses less space.

• It maintains the order of equal elements.

When is merge sort typically used?

• When space is limited.

• When the list is already sorted.

• When the list is small.

• When time is a critical factor.

What is a disadvantage of merge sort compared to other sorting algorithms?

• It is difficult to implement.

• It is slower.

• It requires additional space.

• It is not stable.