If a large dataset of product reviews is sorted alphabetically using the merge sort algorithm, which computational complexity characterizes its average-case time performance?

💡 Explanation

Merge sort employs a divide-and-conquer approach, which involves recursively dividing the data and then merging it. Because of this recursive division and merging mechanism, merge sort achieves an average-case time complexity of O(n log n). Therefore, linearithmic time is the correct characterization, rather than the quadratic, linear, or exponential alternatives.

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