intersection-of-two-linked-lists.py

# Time:  O(m + n)
# Space: O(1)
#
# Write a program to find the node at which the intersection of two singly linked lists begins.
# 
# 
# For example, the following two linked lists:
# 
# A:          a1 - a2
#                    \
#                      c1 - c2 - c3
#                    /            
# B:     b1 - b2 - b3
# begin to intersect at node c1.
# 
# 
# Notes:
# 
# If the two linked lists have no intersection at all, return null.
# The linked lists must retain their original structure after the function returns.
# You may assume there are no cycles anywhere in the entire linked structure.
# Your code should preferably run in O(n) time and use only O(1) memory.
#

# Definition for singly-linked list.
class ListNode:
    def __init__(self, x):
        self.val = x
        self.next = None

class Solution:
    # @param two ListNodes
    # @return the intersected ListNode
    def getIntersectionNode(self, headA, headB):
        curA, curB = headA, headB
        begin, tailA, tailB = None, None, None
        
        # a->c->b->c
        # b->c->a->c
        while curA and curB:
            if curA == curB:
                begin = curA
                break
                
            if curA.next:
                curA = curA.next
            elif tailA is None:
                tailA = curA
                curA = headB
            else:
                break
            
            if curB.next:
                curB = curB.next
            elif tailB is None:
                tailB = curB
                curB = headA
            else:
                break
        
        return begin