Merge / Insert Intervals

The Merge / Insert Intervals technique is applied when tackling problems characterized by specific invariants in the problem state or constraints:

• Core Strategy: Sort intervals by start time and merge or insert while adjacent intervals overlap.
• When to use: Look for opportunities where repeated re-computation can be replaced by maintaining monotonic properties, state windows, or relational pointers.
• Interview Signal: Demonstrating this pattern shows mastery of Intervals foundations, reducing worst-case algorithmic complexity.