Question

How do you insert an array of linked lists(L) as an argument of a function (in pseudocode)?

For example I already have an array of linked lists (L) where each element of this array is the head/ or start of a new linked list.

I then want to traverse each list in the algorithm

e.g. FindMean(how to represent the list here?)

{ here I want to visit the first node of each list in turn, then all the second nodes for each list etc..}

This is what I have, I'm not sure if its representing what I want it to represent:

FindMean(L[X_i..X_m])

{ for( i=1 to m)

{

p = X_i.next

print(p)

}

}

Answer 1

The answer depends on the language you are using. For example,

in c++,

let us suppose there is a class LinkedList. You made an array of linked list,

LinkedList list[10];

then when calling the function FindMean, you have to pass two things 1. list 2. length of list. So it will be like this,

FindMean(list, 10);

and the function FindMean will look like,

FindMean(LinkedList [], int length)

{ for( i=1; I<length; I++)

{

p = X_i.next

print(p)

}

}

But , if you don't want to pass the length, then you have to use vector instead of array (because vector has property size). eg.

vector<LinkedList> list(10);

FindMean(list);

and FindMean will look like,

FindMean(vector<LinkedList> list)

{ for( i=1; I<list.size(); I++)

{

p = X_i.next

print(p)

}

}

Now for language like python, it is very easy:

just create a list of LinkedList,

lst = [L1, L2, L3, ...]

and call the FindMean Function by just calling:

FindMean(lst)

and FindMean wiil look like,

def FindMean(lst)

   for l in lst:

   p = X_i.next

   print(p)