Solution: Linked List Cycle IV
Explore how to detect and remove cycles in singly linked lists using fast and slow pointers. This lesson teaches the Floyd’s cycle detection method to identify cycles, find their starting nodes, and remove them efficiently while maintaining the list's original order. Understanding this helps you solve common linked list problems with O(n) time and O(1) space complexity.
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Statement
Given the head of a singly linked list, implement a function to detect and remove any cycle present in the list. A cycle occurs when a node's next pointer links back to a previous node, forming a loop within the list.
The function must modify the linked list in place, ensuring it remains acyclic while preserving the original node order. If no cycle is found, return the linked list as is.
Constraints: