Question about Reverse Linked List (leetcode 206) - algorithm

I know my code is completely wrong, but I do not know where I did wrong,
can anyone point out and explain what I did wrong?
public ListNode reverseList(ListNode head) {
if (head == null) {
return head;
}
ListNode prev = null;
ListNode current = head;
ListNode nextNode = head.next;
while (nextNode != null) {
prev = current;
current = nextNode;
current.next = prev;
nextNode = nextNode.next;
System.out.println(nextNode.val);
}
return current;
}

Changes:
head.next = null; // to make the end of the list as null
current.next = prev; // current is the reference to the node so changes to it will change node with reference nextNode also
public ListNode reverseList(ListNode head) {
if (head == null) {
return head;
}
ListNode prev = null;
ListNode current = head;
ListNode nextNode = head.next;
head.next = null; // to make the end of the list as null
while (nextNode != null) {
prev = current;
current = nextNode;
nextNode = nextNode.next; // first get next node, before ...
current.next = prev; // ... overwriting it here
// System.out.println(nextNode.val);
}
return current;
}

Alternative Solution
We can just say while head != null and then reverse it using a prev Node, finally we would return the prev. It'd be easier:
public final class Solution {
public static final ListNode reverseList(ListNode head) {
ListNode prev = null;
ListNode nextNode;
while (head != null) {
nextNode = head.next;
head.next = prev;
prev = head;
head = nextNode;
}
return prev;
}
}

Related

Binary Search Tree In-order traversal without recursion or additional data structures

If nodes in a Binary Search Tree had pointers back to its parent node, is it possible to do an In-order traversal without the need for recursion or additional data structures?
Keep track of the previous node during the traversal, which will help decide which way to go next.
In C#:
class Node {
/* ... */
public void inorder() {
Node curr = this;
Node prev = null;
Node next = null;
while (curr != null) {
if (curr.right != null && prev == curr.right) {
next = curr.parent;
} else if (curr.left == null || prev == curr.left) {
Console.WriteLine(curr.data); // <-- visit the node.
next = curr.right != null ? curr.right : curr.parent;
} else {
next = curr.left;
}
prev = curr;
curr = next;
}
}
};
In C++ it could look like this:
void inorder(Node* root) {
Node * curr = root;
Node * prev = NULL;
Node * next = NULL;
while (curr != NULL) {
if (curr->right != NULL && prev == curr->right) {
next = curr->parent;
} else if (curr->left == NULL || prev == curr->left) {
cout << curr->data << " "; // <-- visit the node.
next = curr->right != NULL ? curr->right : curr->parent;
} else {
next = curr->left;
}
prev = curr;
curr = next;
}
cout << "\n";
}
To get the first node, you just start at the root and go left as far as possible.
To get from any node to the next:
If the node has a right child, then go right, and then go left as far as possible.
Otherwise, follow parent pointers up until you get to an ancestor on the right (i.e., you get there from a left child)
You're done when you go up from the root.
Here is a small example.
Map<TreeNode,TreeNode> parent; // available
Set<TreeNode> set = new HashSet<>(); // maintain visited nodes
TreeNode curr = root;
while(curr!=null){
if(!set.contains(curr.left) && curr.left!=null){
curr = curr.left;
}else if(!set.contains(curr.right) && curr.right!=null){
System.out.print(curr.value+" ");
curr = curr.right;
}else{
if(curr.right==null){
System.out.print(curr.value+" ");
}
set.add(curr); // mark it as completely visited
curr = parent.get(curr);
}
}

reverse singly linked list java?

I have a problem ,I can't run this method , I want to reverse the nodes in a single Linkedlist.I say all Posts from Stackoverflow about reverse but they are different with my code.
There is my code
public node reverse(node head) {
node p,q;
if(head==null) {
return head;
}
p=head;
q=p.next;
if(q==null) {
return p;
}
q=reverse(q);
p.next.next=p;
p.next=null;
return q;
}public void printList(){
node currentNode = head;
while(currentNode != null){
System.out.print(currentNode.data);
currentNode=currentNode.next;
}
}
Main class
public class main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
linkedlist obj = new linkedlist();
obj.insertFirst(1);
obj.insertFirst(2);
obj.insertFirst(3);
obj.insertFirst(4);
obj.insertFirst(5);
obj.reverse(head);
obj.printList();
please give me a solution by there code.
Reversed the linked list:
class LinkedList {
static Node head;
static class Node {
int data;
Node next;
Node(int d) {
data = d;
next = null;
}
}
/* Function to reverse the linked list */
Node reverse(Node node) {
Node prev = null;
Node current = node;
Node next = null;
while (current != null) {
next = current.next;
current.next = prev;
prev = current;
current = next;
}
node = prev;
return node;
}
// prints content of double linked list
void printList(Node node) {
while (node != null) {
System.out.print(node.data + " ");
node = node.next;
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
LinkedList list = new LinkedList();
list.head = new Node(85);
list.head.next = new Node(15);
list.head.next.next = new Node(4);
list.head.next.next.next = new Node(20);
System.out.println("Given Linked list");
list.printList(head);
head = list.reverse(head);
System.out.println("");
System.out.println("Reversed linked list ");
list.printList(head);
}
}
Your code makes little sense and hard to make it right. I would recommend to go for an easier and concise approach first like this.
public node reverse(node head) {
if(head == null || head->next == mull) {
return head;
}
node current = head;
node newHead = null;
node previous = null;
while(current != null) {
node nxt = current.next;
current.next = previous;
newHead = current;
previous = current;
current = nxt;
}
return newHead;
}

Return first unique number in a stream in constant time

How to write a static function that returns first unique number in a stream of numbers if current number is a terminating number (e.g. zero). Otherwise, it should return zero.
static int firstUnique(int number);
Time complexity should be O(1). What data structure should I use?
Use map and doubly linkedlist :
#include <iostream>
#include <unordered_map>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;
const int TERMINATOR = 0;
struct Node {
int data;
Node* next;
Node* prev;
};
int firstUnique(int number){
static unordered_map<int, Node*> numToIsUnique;
static Node* head = nullptr; // first unique
static Node* tail = nullptr; // last unique
if (number != TERMINATOR){
Node* newNode = new Node{number, nullptr, nullptr};
if (numToIsUnique.insert(make_pair(number, newNode)).second == false) {
// insert fails => number is not unique
// Need to delete from LinkedList
Node* nodeToDelete = numToIsUnique[number];
if (nodeToDelete != nullptr){ // delete only once
if (head == nodeToDelete && tail == nodeToDelete){
// head == tail - one node
head = nullptr;
tail = nullptr;
}
else if (head == nodeToDelete){
// head to delete
head = head->next;
head->prev = nullptr;
}
else if (tail == nodeToDelete){
// tail to delete
tail = tail->prev;
tail->next = nullptr;
}
else {
// delete node in the middle
nodeToDelete->prev->next = nodeToDelete->next;
nodeToDelete->next->prev = nodeToDelete->prev;
}
delete nodeToDelete;
numToIsUnique[number] = nullptr;
}
}
else {
// number is new => need to append at the end of link list (last unique)
if (head == nullptr){
// list is empty
head = newNode;
tail = head;
}
else if (head == tail){
// list has one node
tail = newNode;
newNode->prev = head;
head->next = tail;
}
else {
// list has more than one node
newNode->prev = tail;
tail->next = newNode;
tail = newNode;
}
}
return TERMINATOR;
}
else {
// Output head
if (head == nullptr){
return TERMINATOR;
}
else {
return head->data;
}
}
}

Tree Postorder Traversal performance

I tried to work on my own to get iterative postorder traversal. My solution got Time Limited Exceeded in Leetcode Online Judge
public List<Integer> postorderTraversalIterativel(TreeNode root) {
List<Integer> ret = new LinkedList<Integer>();
Stack<TreeNode> stack = new Stack<TreeNode>();
TreeNode cur = root;
while (cur != null || !stack.isEmpty()) {
if (cur != null) {
stack.push(cur);
cur = cur.left;
} else {
TreeNode parent = stack.peek(), child = null;
if (parent.right == null) {
// pop hard
stack.pop();
while (parent.right == child && !stack.isEmpty()) {
child = parent;
ret.add(child.val);
parent = stack.pop();
}
} else {
cur = parent.right;
}
}
}
return ret;
}
while the official implementation from wikipedia could pass the test.
public List<Integer> postorderTraversalIterativel(TreeNode root) {
List<Integer> ret = new LinkedList<Integer>();
Stack<TreeNode> stack = new Stack<TreeNode>();
TreeNode cur = root, lastVisited = null;
while (cur != null || !stack.isEmpty()) {
if (cur != null) {
stack.push(cur);
cur = cur.left;
} else {
TreeNode parent = stack.peek();
if (parent.right != null && lastVisited != parent.right) {
// make sure pop all the node has right child of the
// previous pop
cur = parent.right;
} else {
stack.pop();
ret.add(parent.val);
lastVisited = parent;
}
}
}
return ret;
}
by inspecting the code, I am unable to see why my implementation is slower than the official one. Could anyone point out what's happening? (It's possible that my solution is logically wrong, but the one failed my solution in timing I have unit tested, and the unit test finishes quick ...). Any comments are welcome.
public void testPostorderTraversal1() {
TreeNode root = new TreeNode(3);
TreeNode right = new TreeNode(1);
TreeNode rightLeft = new TreeNode(2);
root.right = right;
right.left = rightLeft;
List<Integer> list = new LinkedList<Integer>();
list.add(2);
list.add(1);
list.add(3);
assertEquals(list.toString(), sut.postorderTraversal(root).toString());
}
public void testPostorderTraversal2() {
TreeNode root = new TreeNode(1);
TreeNode right = new TreeNode(2);
root.right = right;
List<Integer> list = new LinkedList<Integer>();
list.add(2);
list.add(1);
assertEquals(list.toString(), sut.postorderTraversal(root).toString());
}
Your code has possible to do Infinite loop.
Your 'testPostorderTraversal1' unitest is not finish.
If there is any node that has right child node that has left child node, can't finish.

Interview Question: Merge two sorted singly linked lists without creating new nodes

This is a programming question asked during a written test for an interview.
"You have two singly linked lists that are already sorted, you have to merge them and return a the head of the new list without creating any new extra nodes. The returned list should be sorted as well"
The method signature is:
Node MergeLists(Node list1, Node list2);
Node class is below:
class Node{
int data;
Node next;
}
I tried many solutions but not creating an extra node screws things. Please help.
Here is the accompanying blog entry http://techieme.in/merging-two-sorted-singly-linked-list/
Node MergeLists(Node list1, Node list2) {
if (list1 == null) return list2;
if (list2 == null) return list1;
if (list1.data < list2.data) {
list1.next = MergeLists(list1.next, list2);
return list1;
} else {
list2.next = MergeLists(list2.next, list1);
return list2;
}
}
Recursion should not be needed to avoid allocating a new node:
Node MergeLists(Node list1, Node list2) {
if (list1 == null) return list2;
if (list2 == null) return list1;
Node head;
if (list1.data < list2.data) {
head = list1;
} else {
head = list2;
list2 = list1;
list1 = head;
}
while(list1.next != null) {
if (list1.next.data > list2.data) {
Node tmp = list1.next;
list1.next = list2;
list2 = tmp;
}
list1 = list1.next;
}
list1.next = list2;
return head;
}
Node MergeLists(Node node1, Node node2)
{
if(node1 == null)
return node2;
else (node2 == null)
return node1;
Node head;
if(node1.data < node2.data)
{
head = node1;
node1 = node1.next;
else
{
head = node2;
node2 = node2.next;
}
Node current = head;
while((node1 != null) ||( node2 != null))
{
if (node1 == null) {
current.next = node2;
return head;
}
else if (node2 == null) {
current.next = node1;
return head;
}
if (node1.data < node2.data)
{
current.next = node1;
current = current.next;
node1 = node1.next;
}
else
{
current.next = node2;
current = current.next;
node2 = node2.next;
}
}
current.next = NULL // needed to complete the tail of the merged list
return head;
}
Look ma, no recursion!
struct llist * llist_merge(struct llist *one, struct llist *two, int (*cmp)(struct llist *l, struct llist *r) )
{
struct llist *result, **tail;
for (result=NULL, tail = &result; one && two; tail = &(*tail)->next ) {
if (cmp(one,two) <=0) { *tail = one; one=one->next; }
else { *tail = two; two=two->next; }
}
*tail = one ? one: two;
return result;
}
Here is the algorithm on how to merge two sorted linked lists A and B:
while A not empty or B not empty:
if first element of A < first element of B:
remove first element from A
insert element into C
end if
else:
remove first element from B
insert element into C
end while
Here C will be the output list.
Iteration can be done as below. Complexity = O(n)
public static LLNode mergeSortedListIteration(LLNode nodeA, LLNode nodeB) {
LLNode mergedNode ;
LLNode tempNode ;
if (nodeA == null) {
return nodeB;
}
if (nodeB == null) {
return nodeA;
}
if ( nodeA.getData() < nodeB.getData())
{
mergedNode = nodeA;
nodeA = nodeA.getNext();
}
else
{
mergedNode = nodeB;
nodeB = nodeB.getNext();
}
tempNode = mergedNode;
while (nodeA != null && nodeB != null)
{
if ( nodeA.getData() < nodeB.getData())
{
mergedNode.setNext(nodeA);
nodeA = nodeA.getNext();
}
else
{
mergedNode.setNext(nodeB);
nodeB = nodeB.getNext();
}
mergedNode = mergedNode.getNext();
}
if (nodeA != null)
{
mergedNode.setNext(nodeA);
}
if (nodeB != null)
{
mergedNode.setNext(nodeB);
}
return tempNode;
}
Node mergeList(Node h1, Node h2) {
if (h1 == null) return h2;
if (h2 == null) return h1;
Node head;
if (h1.data < h2.data) {
head = h1;
} else {
head = h2;
h2 = h1;
h1 = head;
}
while (h1.next != null && h2 != null) {
if (h1.next.data < h2.data) {
h1 = h1.next;
} else {
Node afterh2 = h2.next;
Node afterh1 = h1.next;
h1.next = h2;
h2.next = afterh1;
if (h2.next != null) {
h2 = afterh2;
}
}
}
return head;
}
This could be done without creating the extra node, with just an another Node reference passing to the parameters (Node temp).
private static Node mergeTwoLists(Node nodeList1, Node nodeList2, Node temp) {
if(nodeList1 == null) return nodeList2;
if(nodeList2 == null) return nodeList1;
if(nodeList1.data <= nodeList2.data){
temp = nodeList1;
temp.next = mergeTwoLists(nodeList1.next, nodeList2, temp);
}
else{
temp = nodeList2;
temp.next = mergeTwoLists(nodeList1, nodeList2.next, temp);
}
return temp;
}
I would like to share how i thought the solution... i saw the solution that involves recursion and they are pretty amazing, is the outcome of well functional and modular thinking. I really appreciate the sharing.
I would like to add that recursion won't work for big lits, the stack calls will overflow; so i decided to try the iterative approach... and this is what i get.
The code is pretty self explanatory, i added some inline comments to try to assure this.
If you don't get it, please notify me and i will improve the readability (perhaps i am having a misleading interpretation of my own code).
import java.util.Random;
public class Solution {
public static class Node<T extends Comparable<? super T>> implements Comparable<Node<T>> {
T data;
Node next;
#Override
public int compareTo(Node<T> otherNode) {
return data.compareTo(otherNode.data);
}
#Override
public String toString() {
return ((data != null) ? data.toString() + ((next != null) ? "," + next.toString() : "") : "null");
}
}
public static Node merge(Node firstLeft, Node firstRight) {
combine(firstLeft, firstRight);
return Comparision.perform(firstLeft, firstRight).min;
}
private static void combine(Node leftNode, Node rightNode) {
while (leftNode != null && rightNode != null) {
// get comparision data about "current pair of nodes being analized".
Comparision comparision = Comparision.perform(leftNode, rightNode);
// stores references to the next nodes
Node nextLeft = leftNode.next;
Node nextRight = rightNode.next;
// set the "next node" of the "minor node" between the "current pair of nodes being analized"...
// ...to be equals the minor node between the "major node" and "the next one of the minor node" of the former comparision.
comparision.min.next = Comparision.perform(comparision.max, comparision.min.next).min;
if (comparision.min == leftNode) {
leftNode = nextLeft;
} else {
rightNode = nextRight;
}
}
}
/** Stores references to two nodes viewed as one minimum and one maximum. The static factory method populates properly the instance being build */
private static class Comparision {
private final Node min;
private final Node max;
private Comparision(Node min, Node max) {
this.min = min;
this.max = max;
}
private static Comparision perform(Node a, Node b) {
Node min, max;
if (a != null && b != null) {
int comparision = a.compareTo(b);
if (comparision <= 0) {
min = a;
max = b;
} else {
min = b;
max = a;
}
} else {
max = null;
min = (a != null) ? a : b;
}
return new Comparision(min, max);
}
}
// Test example....
public static void main(String args[]) {
Node firstLeft = buildList(20);
Node firstRight = buildList(40);
Node firstBoth = merge(firstLeft, firstRight);
System.out.println(firstBoth);
}
// someone need to write something like this i guess...
public static Node buildList(int size) {
Random r = new Random();
Node<Integer> first = new Node<>();
first.data = 0;
first.next = null;
Node<Integer> current = first;
Integer last = first.data;
for (int i = 1; i < size; i++) {
Node<Integer> node = new Node<>();
node.data = last + r.nextInt(5);
last = node.data;
node.next = null;
current.next = node;
current = node;
}
return first;
}
}
A simple iterative solution.
Node* MergeLists(Node* A, Node* B)
{
//handling the corner cases
//if both lists are empty
if(!A && !B)
{
cout << "List is empty" << endl;
return 0;
}
//either of list is empty
else if(!A) return B;
else if(!B) return A;
else
{
Node* head = NULL;//this will be the head of the newList
Node* previous = NULL;//this will act as the
/* In this algorithm we will keep the
previous pointer that will point to the last node of the output list.
And, as given we have A & B as pointer to the given lists.
The algorithm will keep on going untill either one of the list become empty.
Inside of the while loop, it will divide the algorithm in two parts:
- First, if the head of the output list is not obtained yet
- Second, if head is already there then we will just compare the values and keep appending to the 'previous' pointer.
When one of the list become empty we will append the other 'left over' list to the output list.
*/
while(A && B)
{
if(!head)
{
if(A->data <= B->data)
{
head = A;//setting head of the output list to A
previous = A; //initializing previous
A = A->next;
}
else
{
head = B;//setting head of the output list to B
previous = B;//initializing previous
B = B->next;
}
}
else//when head is already set
{
if(A->data <= B->data)
{
if(previous->next != A)
previous->next = A;
A = A->next;//Moved A forward but keeping B at the same position
}
else
{
if(previous->next != B)
previous->next = B;
B = B->next; //Moved B forward but keeping A at the same position
}
previous = previous->next;//Moving the Output list pointer forward
}
}
//at the end either one of the list would finish
//and we have to append the other list to the output list
if(!A)
previous->next = B;
if(!B)
previous->next = A;
return head; //returning the head of the output list
}
}
I show below an iterative solution. A recursive solution would be more compact, but since we don't know the length of the lists, recursion runs the risk of stack overflow.
The basic idea is similar to the merge step in merge sort; we keep a pointer corresponding to each input list; at each iteration, we advance the pointer corresponding to the smaller element. However, there's one crucial difference where most people get tripped. In merge sort, since we use a result array, the next position to insert is always the index of the result array. For a linked list, we need to keep a pointer to the last element of the sorted list. The pointer may jump around from one input list to another depending on which one has the smaller element for the current iteration.
With that, the following code should be self-explanatory.
public ListNode mergeTwoLists(ListNode l1, ListNode l2) {
if (l1 == null) {
return l2;
}
if (l2 == null) {
return l1;
}
ListNode first = l1;
ListNode second = l2;
ListNode head = null;
ListNode last = null;
while (first != null && second != null) {
if (first.val < second.val) {
if (last != null) {
last.next = first;
}
last = first;
first = first.next;
} else {
if (last != null) {
last.next = second;
}
last = second;
second = second.next;
}
if (head == null) {
head = last;
}
}
if (first == null) {
last.next = second;
}
if (second == null) {
last.next = first;
}
return head;
}
Simple code in javascript to merge two linked list inplace.
function mergeLists(l1, l2) {
let head = new ListNode(0); //dummy
let curr = head;
while(l1 && l2) {
if(l2.val >= l1.val) {
curr.next = l1;
l1 = l1.next;
} else {
curr.next = l2;
l2=l2.next
}
curr = curr.next;
}
if(!l1){
curr.next=l2;
}
if(!l2){
curr.next=l1;
}
return head.next;
}
First of all understand the mean of "without creating any new extra nodes", As I understand it does not mean that I can not have pointer(s) which points to an existing node(s).
You can not achieve it without talking pointers to existing nodes, even if you use recursion to achieve the same, system will create pointers for you as call stacks. It is just like telling system to add pointers which you have avoided in your code.
Simple function to achieve the same with taking extra pointers:
typedef struct _LLNode{
int value;
struct _LLNode* next;
}LLNode;
LLNode* CombineSortedLists(LLNode* a,LLNode* b){
if(NULL == a){
return b;
}
if(NULL == b){
return a;
}
LLNode* root = NULL;
if(a->value < b->value){
root = a;
a = a->next;
}
else{
root = b;
b = b->next;
}
LLNode* curr = root;
while(1){
if(a->value < b->value){
curr->next = a;
curr = a;
a=a->next;
if(NULL == a){
curr->next = b;
break;
}
}
else{
curr->next = b;
curr = b;
b=b->next;
if(NULL == b){
curr->next = a;
break;
}
}
}
return root;
}
Node * merge_sort(Node *a, Node *b){
Node *result = NULL;
if(a == NULL)
return b;
else if(b == NULL)
return a;
/* For the first node, we would set the result to either a or b */
if(a->data <= b->data){
result = a;
/* Result's next will point to smaller one in lists
starting at a->next and b */
result->next = merge_sort(a->next,b);
}
else {
result = b;
/*Result's next will point to smaller one in lists
starting at a and b->next */
result->next = merge_sort(a,b->next);
}
return result;
}
Please refer to my blog post for http://www.algorithmsandme.com/2013/10/linked-list-merge-two-sorted-linked.html
Node MergeLists(Node list1, Node list2) {
//if list is null return other list
if(list1 == null)
{
return list2;
}
else if(list2 == null)
{
return list1;
}
else
{
Node head;
//Take head pointer to the node which has smaller first data node
if(list1.data < list2.data)
{
head = list1;
list1 = list1.next;
}
else
{
head = list2;
list2 = list2.next;
}
Node current = head;
//loop till both list are not pointing to null
while(list1 != null || list2 != null)
{
//if list1 is null, point rest of list2 by current pointer
if(list1 == null){
current.next = list2;
return head;
}
//if list2 is null, point rest of list1 by current pointer
else if(list2 == null){
current.next = list1;
return head;
}
//compare if list1 node data is smaller than list2 node data, list1 node will be
//pointed by current pointer
else if(list1.data < list2.data)
{
current.next = list1;
current = current.next;
list1 = list1.next;
}
else
{
current.next = list2;
current = current.next;
list2 = list2.next;
}
}
return head;
}
}
Here is a complete working example that uses the linked list implemented java.util. You can just copy paste the code below inside a main() method.
LinkedList<Integer> dList1 = new LinkedList<Integer>();
LinkedList<Integer> dList2 = new LinkedList<Integer>();
LinkedList<Integer> dListMerged = new LinkedList<Integer>();
dList1.addLast(1);
dList1.addLast(8);
dList1.addLast(12);
dList1.addLast(15);
dList1.addLast(85);
dList2.addLast(2);
dList2.addLast(3);
dList2.addLast(12);
dList2.addLast(24);
dList2.addLast(85);
dList2.addLast(185);
int i = 0;
int y = 0;
int dList1Size = dList1.size();
int dList2Size = dList2.size();
int list1Item = dList1.get(i);
int list2Item = dList2.get(y);
while (i < dList1Size || y < dList2Size) {
if (i < dList1Size) {
if (list1Item <= list2Item || y >= dList2Size) {
dListMerged.addLast(list1Item);
i++;
if (i < dList1Size) {
list1Item = dList1.get(i);
}
}
}
if (y < dList2Size) {
if (list2Item <= list1Item || i >= dList1Size) {
dListMerged.addLast(list2Item);
y++;
if (y < dList2Size) {
list2Item = dList2.get(y);
}
}
}
}
for(int x:dListMerged)
{
System.out.println(x);
}
Recursive way(variant of Stefan answer)
MergeList(Node nodeA, Node nodeB ){
if(nodeA==null){return nodeB};
if(nodeB==null){return nodeA};
if(nodeB.data<nodeA.data){
Node returnNode = MergeNode(nodeA,nodeB.next);
nodeB.next = returnNode;
retturn nodeB;
}else{
Node returnNode = MergeNode(nodeA.next,nodeB);
nodeA.next=returnNode;
return nodeA;
}
Consider below linked list to visualize this
2>4 list A
1>3 list B
Almost same answer(non recursive) as Stefan but with little more comments/meaningful variable name. Also covered double linked list in comments if someone is interested
Consider the example
5->10->15>21 // List1
2->3->6->20 //List2
Node MergeLists(List list1, List list2) {
if (list1 == null) return list2;
if (list2 == null) return list1;
if(list1.head.data>list2.head.data){
listB =list2; // loop over this list as its head is smaller
listA =list1;
} else {
listA =list2; // loop over this list
listB =list1;
}
listB.currentNode=listB.head;
listA.currentNode=listA.head;
while(listB.currentNode!=null){
if(listB.currentNode.data<listA.currentNode.data){
Node insertFromNode = listB.currentNode.prev;
Node startingNode = listA.currentNode;
Node temp = inserFromNode.next;
inserFromNode.next = startingNode;
startingNode.next=temp;
startingNode.next.prev= startingNode; // for doubly linked list
startingNode.prev=inserFromNode; // for doubly linked list
listB.currentNode= listB.currentNode.next;
listA.currentNode= listA.currentNode.next;
}
else
{
listB.currentNode= listB.currentNode.next;
}
}
My take on the question is as below:
Pseudocode:
Compare the two heads A and B.
If A <= B, then add A and move the head of A to the next node.
Similarly, if B < A, then add B and move the head of B to the next node B.
If both A and B are NULL then stop and return.
If either of them is NULL, then traverse the non null head till it becomes NULL.
Code:
public Node mergeLists(Node headA, Node headB) {
Node merge = null;
// If we have reached the end, then stop.
while (headA != null || headB != null) {
// if B is null then keep appending A, else check if value of A is lesser or equal than B
if (headB == null || (headA != null && headA.data <= headB.data)) {
// Add the new node, handle addition separately in a new method.
merge = add(merge, headA.data);
// Since A is <= B, Move head of A to next node
headA = headA.next;
// if A is null then keep appending B, else check if value of B is lesser than A
} else if (headA == null || (headB != null && headB.data < headA.data)) {
// Add the new node, handle addition separately in a new method.
merge = add(merge, headB.data);
// Since B is < A, Move head of B to next node
headB = headB.next;
}
}
return merge;
}
public Node add(Node head, int data) {
Node end = new Node(data);
if (head == null) {
return end;
}
Node curr = head;
while (curr.next != null) {
curr = curr.next;
}
curr.next = end;
return head;
}
/* Simple/Elegant Iterative approach in Java*/
private static LinkedList mergeLists(LinkedList list1, LinkedList list2) {
Node head1 = list1.start;
Node head2 = list2.start;
if (list1.size == 0)
return list2;
if (list2.size == 0)
return list1;
LinkedList mergeList = new LinkedList();
while (head1 != null && head2 != null) {
if (head1.getData() < head2.getData()) {
int data = head1.getData();
mergeList.insert(data);
head1 = head1.getNext();
} else {
int data = head2.getData();
mergeList.insert(data);
head2 = head2.getNext();
}
}
while (head1 != null) {
int data = head1.getData();
mergeList.insert(data);
head1 = head1.getNext();
}
while (head2 != null) {
int data = head2.getData();
mergeList.insert(data);
head2 = head2.getNext();
}
return mergeList;
}
/* Build-In singly LinkedList class in Java*/
class LinkedList {
Node start;
int size = 0;
void insert(int data) {
if (start == null)
start = new Node(data);
else {
Node temp = start;
while (temp.getNext() != null) {
temp = temp.getNext();
}
temp.setNext(new Node(data));
}
size++;
}
#Override
public String toString() {
String str = "";
Node temp=start;
while (temp != null) {
str += temp.getData() + "-->";
temp = temp.getNext();
}
return str;
}
}
LLNode *mergeSorted(LLNode *h1, LLNode *h2)
{
LLNode *h3=NULL;
LLNode *h3l;
if(h1==NULL && h2==NULL)
return NULL;
if(h1==NULL)
return h2;
if(h2==NULL)
return h1;
if(h1->data<h2->data)
{
h3=h1;
h1=h1->next;
}
else
{
h3=h2;
h2=h2->next;
}
LLNode *oh=h3;
while(h1!=NULL && h2!=NULL)
{
if(h1->data<h2->data)
{
h3->next=h1;
h3=h3->next;
h1=h1->next;
}
else
{
h3->next=h2;
h3=h3->next;
h2=h2->next;
}
}
if(h1==NULL)
h3->next=h2;
if(h2==NULL)
h3->next=h1;
return oh;
}
// Common code for insert at the end
private void insertEnd(int data) {
Node newNode = new Node(data);
if (head == null) {
newNode.next = head;
head = tail = newNode;
return;
}
Node tempNode = tail;
tempNode.next = newNode;
tail = newNode;
}
private void mergerTwoSortedListInAscOrder(Node tempNode1, Node tempNode2) {
if (tempNode1 == null && tempNode2 == null)
return;
if (tempNode1 == null) {
head3 = tempNode2;
return;
}
if (tempNode2 == null) {
head3 = tempNode1;
return;
}
while (tempNode1 != null && tempNode2 != null) {
if (tempNode1.mData < tempNode2.mData) {
insertEndForHead3(tempNode1.mData);
tempNode1 = tempNode1.next;
} else if (tempNode1.mData > tempNode2.mData) {
insertEndForHead3(tempNode2.mData);
tempNode2 = tempNode2.next;
} else {
insertEndForHead3(tempNode1.mData);
insertEndForHead3(tempNode2.mData);
tempNode1 = tempNode1.next;
tempNode2 = tempNode2.next;
}
}
if (tempNode1 != null) {
while (tempNode1 != null) {
insertEndForHead3(tempNode1.mData);
tempNode1 = tempNode1.next;
}
}
if (tempNode2 != null) {
while (tempNode2 != null) {
insertEndForHead3(tempNode2.mData);
tempNode2 = tempNode2.next;
}
}
}
:)GlbMP
public static Node merge(Node h1, Node h2) {
Node h3 = new Node(0);
Node current = h3;
boolean isH1Left = false;
boolean isH2Left = false;
while (h1 != null || h2 != null) {
if (h1.data <= h2.data) {
current.next = h1;
h1 = h1.next;
} else {
current.next = h2;
h2 = h2.next;
}
current = current.next;
if (h2 == null && h1 != null) {
isH1Left = true;
break;
}
if (h1 == null && h2 != null) {
isH2Left = true;
break;
}
}
if (isH1Left) {
while (h1 != null) {
current.next = h1;
current = current.next;
h1 = h1.next;
}
}
if (isH2Left) {
while (h2 != null) {
current.next = h2;
current = current.next;
h2 = h2.next;
}
}
h3 = h3.next;
return h3;
}
I created only one dummy node at the beginning to save myself many 'if' conditions.
public ListNode mergeTwoLists(ListNode l1, ListNode l2) {
ListNode list1Cursor = l1;
ListNode list2Cursor = l2;
ListNode currentNode = new ListNode(-1); // Dummy node
ListNode head = currentNode;
while (list1Cursor != null && list2Cursor != null)
{
if (list1Cursor.val < list2Cursor.val) {
currentNode.next = list1Cursor;
list1Cursor = list1Cursor.next;
currentNode = currentNode.next;
} else {
currentNode.next = list2Cursor;
list2Cursor = list2Cursor.next;
currentNode = currentNode.next;
}
}
// Complete the rest
while (list1Cursor != null) {
currentNode.next = list1Cursor;
currentNode = currentNode.next;
list1Cursor = list1Cursor.next;
}
while (list2Cursor != null) {
currentNode.next = list2Cursor;
currentNode = currentNode.next;
list2Cursor = list2Cursor.next;
}
return head.next;
}
public ListNode MergeTwoLists(ListNode l1, ListNode l2) {//c#
ListNode _destNode=null;//Merged List
ListNode _srcNode=null;
ListNode _resHead=null;
if(l1==null || l2==null){//for scenario l1 null or l2 null or both null
return l1??l2??null;
}
if(l1.val<=l2.val){
_destNode=l1;//finding the dest list
_srcNode=l2;
_resHead=l1;
}
else{
_destNode=l2;
_srcNode=l1;
_resHead=l2;
}
while(_destNode!=null && _srcNode!=null){
if(_destNode.val<=_srcNode.val && (_destNode.next==null ||_destNode.next.val>=_srcNode.val)) {
//appending the values to dest list , if the element from dest list is less than element from _srcNode
var _temp_l2_currentnode=_srcNode;
_srcNode=_srcNode.next;
var _temp_l1_nextnode=_destNode.next;
_destNode.next=_temp_l2_currentnode;
_temp_l2_currentnode.next=_temp_l1_nextnode;
_destNode=_destNode.next;
}
else{
_destNode=_destNode.next;
}
}
return _resHead;
}
private static Node mergeLists(Node L1, Node L2) {
Node P1 = L1.val < L2.val ? L1 : L2;
Node P2 = L1.val < L2.val ? L2 : L1;
Node BigListHead = P1;
Node tempNode = null;
while (P1 != null && P2 != null) {
if (P1.next != null && P1.next.val >P2.val) {
tempNode = P1.next;
P1.next = P2;
P1 = P2;
P2 = tempNode;
} else if(P1.next != null)
P1 = P1.next;
else {
P1.next = P2;
break;
}
}
return BigListHead;
}
void printLL(){
NodeLL cur = head;
if(cur.getNext() == null){
System.out.println("LL is emplty");
}else{
//System.out.println("printing Node");
while(cur.getNext() != null){
cur = cur.getNext();
System.out.print(cur.getData()+ " ");
}
}
System.out.println();
}
void mergeSortedList(NodeLL node1, NodeLL node2){
NodeLL cur1 = node1.getNext();
NodeLL cur2 = node2.getNext();
NodeLL cur = head;
if(cur1 == null){
cur = node2;
}
if(cur2 == null){
cur = node1;
}
while(cur1 != null && cur2 != null){
if(cur1.getData() <= cur2.getData()){
cur.setNext(cur1);
cur1 = cur1.getNext();
}
else{
cur.setNext(cur2);
cur2 = cur2.getNext();
}
cur = cur.getNext();
}
while(cur1 != null){
cur.setNext(cur1);
cur1 = cur1.getNext();
cur = cur.getNext();
}
while(cur2 != null){
cur.setNext(cur2);
cur2 = cur2.getNext();
cur = cur.getNext();
}
printLL();
}
Here is the code on how to merge two sorted linked lists headA and headB:
Node* MergeLists1(Node *headA, Node* headB)
{
Node *p = headA;
Node *q = headB;
Node *result = NULL;
Node *pp = NULL;
Node *qq = NULL;
Node *head = NULL;
int value1 = 0;
int value2 = 0;
if((headA == NULL) && (headB == NULL))
{
return NULL;
}
if(headA==NULL)
{
return headB;
}
else if(headB==NULL)
{
return headA;
}
else
{
while((p != NULL) || (q != NULL))
{
if((p != NULL) && (q != NULL))
{
int value1 = p->data;
int value2 = q->data;
if(value1 <= value2)
{
pp = p->next;
p->next = NULL;
if(result == NULL)
{
head = result = p;
}
else
{
result->next = p;
result = p;
}
p = pp;
}
else
{
qq = q->next;
q->next = NULL;
if(result == NULL)
{
head = result = q;
}
else
{
result->next = q;
result = q;
}
q = qq;
}
}
else
{
if(p != NULL)
{
pp = p->next;
p->next = NULL;
result->next = p;
result = p;
p = pp;
}
if(q != NULL)
{
qq = q->next;
q->next = NULL;
result->next = q;
result = q;
q = qq;
}
}
}
}
return head;
}

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