Merge Sort: Divide and Conquer

This lecture introduces the merge sort algorithm, which is based on the divide and conquer strategy. The algorithm involves recursively dividing a list into smaller sublists, sorting them, and then merging them back together in a sorted manner. The process includes comparing and merging two sorted lists by selecting the smallest element each time. The instructor explains the merge sort function step by step, illustrating how it recursively sorts and merges the sublists until the entire list is sorted. Through a detailed example with a list of 10 elements, the lecture demonstrates how merge sort partitions, sorts, and merges the sublists to achieve the final sorted list.