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L14 LinkedList

The document discusses various problems and solutions related to linked lists, including finding the median of two sorted arrays in logarithmic time and detecting cycles in singly linked lists using Floyd's algorithm. It also presents interview questions such as finding the middle node and the nth node from the end of a linked list. Additionally, it mentions upcoming topics like checking for palindromes in linked lists and cloning a linked list with random pointers.

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mikocon493
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3 views8 pages

L14 LinkedList

The document discusses various problems and solutions related to linked lists, including finding the median of two sorted arrays in logarithmic time and detecting cycles in singly linked lists using Floyd's algorithm. It also presents interview questions such as finding the middle node and the nth node from the end of a linked list. Additionally, it mentions upcoming topics like checking for palindromes in linked lists and cloning a linked list with random pointers.

Uploaded by

mikocon493
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Linked List based problems

Last Lecture’s Problem 4


• Q4: Given two arrays each containing n sorted elements. Find
median of 2n elements in log n time complexity?
• Point to note: Both lists are already sorted. Can we use that ?
Obvious aim is to reduce searching-area-size during recursive call
to approx half.
• Find median of A and find median of B
• If (medianA == medianB) {ans =(medianA+medianB)/2; over}
• else if (medianA < medianB)
• { A[1.. (midA/2 -1)] and B[(midB/2 -1)..n] can be excluded;
half elements excluded:- log n should come
ans = median of X union Y,
where X is right sublist of A and Y is left sublist of B
}

2
Linked Lists
• Memory efficient DLL
• Instead of storing front & back pointers, can we do better?
• Store pointer difference calculated using XOR

3
Linked Lists: Cycle in a Singly LL
• Check whether a singly LL has a cycle or not?
• Sol A: Brute Force: pointer addresses comparison O(n2)
• Sol B: hashing
• Sol C: Memoryless & efficient solution in O (n): Floyd Algo
• Floyd Cycle Finding Algo: Hare and tortoise race in a track having
cycle.

4
5
Linked List : Interview Questions
• Q1: Find middle of a single LL
• Sol A: Use hash table: O (n)
• Sol B:
concept of Floyd cycle algo?
Use two pointers, one moves at the double speed of
other

6
Linked List : Interview Questions
• Q 2: Find nth node from the last in one scan
• Maintain two pointers;
one pointer always remains n-1 nodes before second
pointer;

7
Next Class Questions
• Check if a singly LL is palindrome or not?
• Generate clone of a singly LL, each node also having a
pointer to a random node in the LL.

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