Question 1

What is the time and space complexity of Merge Sort?

Accepted Answer

Merge Sort has a time complexity of O(n log n) for all cases (worst, average, and best) because it always divides the array into two halves. The space complexity is O(n) due to the extra space required for the temporary arrays used during the merge process.

Question 2

When would you use Quick Sort over Merge Sort?

Accepted Answer

Quick Sort is generally preferred over Merge Sort when space is a concern, as it has a space complexity of O(log n) on average due to its in-place sorting nature. However, its worst-case time complexity is O(n^2), which makes Merge Sort a better choice for applications that require a guaranteed O(n log n) performance.

Sorting Algorithms Complexity Analysis Interview

Related Algorithm Guides