Return the nth node from the end of a linked list

This updated information has been further expanded upon on my new website. You can find the updated details here: https://k5kc.com/cs/algorithms/find-nth-node-from-end-of-linked-list/.

Problem

Get the nth element from the end of the linked list

Example

Lets say the Single Linked List (SLL) is 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9, and we want to find last 3rd element (say ‘pos=3′) in this SLL. So, we have to return 7 here.

Solutions 

Method 1 - 2 pointer approach
Here is a solution which is often called as the solution that uses frames.

Suppose one needs to get to the 6th node from the end in this LL. First, just keep on incrementing the first pointer (ptr1) till the number of increments cross n (which is 6 in this case)

STEP 1    :   1(ptr1,ptr2) -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 6 -> 7 -> 8 -> 9 -> 10

STEP 2    :   1(ptr2) -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 6(ptr1) -> 7 -> 8 -> 9 -> 10

Now, start the second pointer (ptr2) and keep on incrementing it till the first pointer (ptr1) reaches the end of the LL.

STEP 3    :   1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4(ptr2) -> 5 -> 6 -> 7 -> 8 -> 9 -> 10 (ptr1)

So here you have!, the 6th node from the end pointed to by ptr2!


Here is some C code..

struct node
{
  int data;
  struct node *next;
}mynode;


mynode * nthNodeFrmEnd(mynode *head, int n /*pass 0 for last node*/)
{
  mynode *ptr1,*ptr2;
  int count;

  if(!head)
  {
    return(NULL);
  }

  ptr1  = head;
  ptr2  = head;
  count = 0;

  while(count < n)
  {
     count++;
     if((ptr1=ptr1->next)==NULL)
     {
        //Length of the linked list less than n. Error.
        return(NULL);
     }
  }

  while((ptr1=ptr1->next)!=NULL)
  {
    ptr2=ptr2->next;
  }

  return(ptr2);
}

Time complexity : O(n) , n being the length of the linked list

Method 2 - Using the length of the linked list

1. Calculate the length of Linked List. Let the length be len.
2. Print the (len – n + 1)th node from the begining of the Linked List.

Method 3 : Recursion
Here found is passed by reference and is updated again and again. When we reach the end of the linked list, it is set to 1, otherwise it is incremented by 1.

node* findNthNode (node* head, int find, int& found){
    if(!head) {
        found = 1;
        return 0;
    }
    node* retval = findNthNode(head->next, find, found);
    if(found==find)
        retval = head;
    found = found + 1;
    return retval;
}

Thanks.