Analyzing Merge Sort 1

• First pass: All n cards are handled once to create n/2 stacks

• Second pass: All n cards are handled once to create n/4 stacks

• Third pass: All n cards are handled once to create n/8 stacks
  ...

Each pass takes a certain number of stacks and cuts it in half, doubling the size of each stack.

Q: How many passes are required?