def count_numbers(sorted_list, less_than):
    count = 0
    length = len(sorted_list)
    if not length:
        return 0
        
    if length == 1:
        return count + 1 if sorted_list[0] < less_than else count
    elif sorted_list[-1] < less_than:
        return count + length
    elif sorted_list[0] > less_than:
        return count
    
    half = length//2
    return count_numbers(sorted_list[:half], less_than) + count_numbers(sorted_list[half:], less_than)
    
    
sorted_list = [1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4 ,5, 5, 5, 5, 7]
print(count_numbers(sorted_list, 5))