NIST

hard split, easy merge

(algorithmic technique)

Definition: A recursive algorithm, especially a sort algorithm, where dividing (splitting) into smaller problems is time consuming or complex and combining (merging) the solutions is quick or trivial.

Generalization (I am a kind of ...)
divide and conquer.

Aggregate parent (I am a part of or used in ...)
radix sort, quicksort, bucket sort, selection sort.

See also easy split, hard merge.

Note: Although the notion is wide spread, I first heard this term from Doug Edwards about 1994.

Called "Conquer form" of using divide and conquer in [ATCH99, page 3-3].

Author: PEB


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Entry modified 27 October 2005.
HTML page formatted Wed Mar 13 12:42:46 2019.

Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "hard split, easy merge", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed. 27 October 2005. (accessed TODAY) Available from: https://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/hardSplitEasyMerge.html