C++ Program To Add Two Numbers Represented By Linked Lists- Set 1

Last Updated : 11 Apr, 2023

Given two numbers represented by two lists, write a function that returns the sum list. The sum list is a list representation of the addition of two input numbers.

Example:

Input: 
List1: 5->6->3 // represents number 563 
List2: 8->4->2 // represents number 842 
Output: 
Resultant list: 1->4->0->5 // represents number 1405 
Explanation: 563 + 842 = 1405

Input: 
List1: 7->5->9->4->6 // represents number 75946
List2: 8->4 // represents number 84
Output: 
Resultant list: 7->6->0->3->0// represents number 76030
Explanation: 75946+84=76030

Method 1:
Approach: Traverse both lists and One by one pick nodes of both lists and add the values. If the sum is more than 10 then make carry as 1 and reduce sum. If one list has more elements than the other then consider the remaining values of this list as 0. The steps are:

Traverse the two linked lists from start to end
Add the two digits each from respective linked lists.
If one of the lists has reached the end then take 0 as its digit.
Continue it until both the end of the lists.
If the sum of two digits is greater than 9 then set carry as 1 and the current digit as sum % 10

Below is the implementation of this approach.

C++

// C++ program to add two numbers
// represented by linked list
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Linked list node 
class Node 
{
    public:
    int data;
    Node* next;
};
 
/* Function to create a 
   new node with given data */
Node* newNode(int data)
{
    Node* new_node = new Node();
    new_node->data = data;
    new_node->next = NULL;
    return new_node;
}
 
/* Function to insert a node at the
   beginning of the Singly Linked List */
void push(Node** head_ref, int new_data)
{
    // Allocate node 
    Node* new_node = newNode(new_data);
 
    // link the old list of the 
    // new node 
    new_node->next = (*head_ref);
 
    // Move the head to point to the 
    // new node 
    (*head_ref) = new_node;
}
 
/* Adds contents of two linked lists and 
   return the head node of resultant list */
Node* addTwoLists(Node* first, 
                  Node* second)
{
    // res is head node of the resultant 
    // list
    Node* res = NULL;
    Node *temp, *prev = NULL;
    int carry = 0, sum;
 
    // while both lists exist
    while (first != NULL || 
           second != NULL) 
    {
        // Calculate value of next digit in 
        // resultant list. The next digit is 
        // sum of following things
        // (i) Carry
        // (ii) Next digit of first
        // list (if there is a next digit)
        // (ii) Next digit of second
        // list (if there is a next digit)
        sum = carry + (first ? first->data : 0) + 
              (second ? second->data : 0);
 
        // Update carry for next calculation
        carry = (sum >= 10) ? 1 : 0;
 
        // Update sum if it is greater than 10
        sum = sum % 10;
 
        // Create a new node with sum as data
        temp = newNode(sum);
 
        // If this is the first node then
        // set it as head of the resultant list
        if (res == NULL)
            res = temp;
 
        // If this is not the first
        // node then connect it to the rest.
        else
            prev->next = temp;
 
        // Set prev for next insertion
        prev = temp;
 
        // Move first and second
        // pointers to next nodes
        if (first)
            first = first->next;
        if (second)
            second = second->next;
    }
 
    if (carry > 0)
        temp->next = newNode(carry);
 
    // return head of the resultant 
    // list
    return res;
}
 
// A utility function to print a 
// linked list
void printList(Node* node)
{
    while (node != NULL) 
    {
        cout << node->data << " ";
        node = node->next;
    }
    cout << endl;
}
 
// Driver code
int main(void)
{
    Node* res = NULL;
    Node* first = NULL;
    Node* second = NULL;
 
    // Create first list 
    // 7->5->9->4->6
    push(&first, 6);
    push(&first, 4);
    push(&first, 9);
    push(&first, 5);
    push(&first, 7);
    printf("First List is ");
    printList(first);
 
    // Create second list 8->4
    push(&second, 4);
    push(&second, 8);
    cout << "Second List is ";
    printList(second);
 
    // Add the two lists and see 
    // result
    res = addTwoLists(first, 
                      second);
    cout << "Resultant list is ";
    printList(res);
    return 0;
}
// This code is contributed by rathbhupendra

Output:

First List is 7 5 9 4 6 
Second List is 8 4 
Resultant list is 5 0 0 5 6

Complexity Analysis:

Time Complexity: O(m + n), where m and n are numbers of nodes in first and second lists respectively.
The lists need to be traversed only once.
Space Complexity: O(m + n).
A temporary linked list is needed to store the output number

Method 2(Using STL): Using stack data structure
Approach:

1. Create 3 stacks namely s1,s2,s3.
2. Fill s1 with Nodes of list1 and fill s2 with nodes of list2.
3. Fill s3 by creating new nodes and setting the data of new nodes to the 
   sum of s1.top(), s2.top() and carry until list1 and list2 are empty .
4. If the sum >9, set carry 1
5. Else set carry 0.
6. Create a Node(say prev) that will contain the head of the sum List.
7. Link all the elements of s3 from top to bottom.
8. return prev.

C++

// C++ program to add two numbers represented 
// by Linked Lists using Stack
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
class Node 
{
    public:
    int data;
    Node* next;
};
Node* newnode(int data)
{
    Node* x = new Node();
    x->data = data;
    return x;
}
// Function that returns the sum of two 
// numbers represented by linked lists
Node* addTwoNumbers(Node* l1, Node* l2)
{
    Node* prev = NULL;
 
    // Create 3 stacks
    stack<Node*> s1, s2, s3;
 
    // Fill first stack with first 
    // List Elements
    while (l1 != NULL) 
    {
        s1.push(l1);
        l1 = l1->next;
    }
 
    // Fill second stack with second 
    // List Elements
    while (l2 != NULL) 
    {
        s2.push(l2);
        l2 = l2->next;
    }
    int carry = 0;
    // Fill the third stack with the 
    // sum of first and second stack
    while (!s1.empty() && !s2.empty()) 
    {
        int sum = (s1.top()->data + 
                   s2.top()->data + carry);
        Node* temp = newnode(sum % 10);
        s3.push(temp);
        if (sum > 9) 
        {
            carry = 1;
        }
        else
        {
            carry = 0;
        }
        s1.pop();
        s2.pop();
    }
    while (!s1.empty()) 
   {
        int sum = carry + s1.top()->data;
        Node* temp = newnode(sum % 10);
        s3.push(temp);
        if (sum > 9) 
        {
            carry = 1;
        }
        else
        {
            carry = 0;
        }
        s1.pop();
    }
    while (!s2.empty()) 
    {
        int sum = carry + s2.top()->data;
        Node* temp = newnode(sum % 10);
        s3.push(temp);
        if (sum > 9) 
        {
            carry = 1;
        }
        else
        {
            carry = 0;
        }
        s2.pop();
    }
    // If carry is still present create a 
    // new node with value 1 and push it 
    // to the third stack
    if (carry == 1) 
    {
        Node* temp = newnode(1);
        s3.push(temp);
    }
 
    // Link all the elements inside 
    // third stack with each other
    if (!s3.empty())
        prev = s3.top();
    while (!s3.empty())
    {
        Node* temp = s3.top();
        s3.pop();
        if (s3.size() == 0) 
        {
            temp->next = NULL;
        }
        else
        {
            temp->next = s3.top();
        }
    }
    return prev;
}
 
// Utility functions
// Function that displays the List
void Display(Node* head)
{
    if (head == NULL) 
    {
        return;
    }
    while (head->next != NULL) 
    {
        cout << head->data << " -> ";
        head = head->next;
    }
    cout << head->data << endl;
}
 
// Function that adds element at 
// the end of the Linked List
void push(Node** head_ref, int d)
{
    Node* new_node = newnode(d);
    new_node->next = NULL;
    if (*head_ref == NULL) 
    {
        new_node->next = *head_ref;
        *head_ref = new_node;
        return;
    }
    Node* last = *head_ref;
    while (last->next != NULL && 
           last != NULL) 
    {
        last = last->next;
    }
    last->next = new_node;
    return;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    // Creating two lists first list 
    // 9 -> 5 -> 0
    // second List = 6 -> 7
    Node* first = NULL;
    Node* second = NULL;
    Node* sum = NULL;
    push(&first, 9);
    push(&first, 5);
    push(&first, 0);
    push(&second, 6);
    push(&second, 7);
    cout << "First List : ";
    Display(first);
    cout << "Second List : ";
    Display(second);
    sum = addTwoNumbers(first, second);
    cout << "Sum List : ";
    Display(sum);
    return 0;
}

Output:

First List : 9 -> 5 -> 0
Second List : 6 -> 7
Sum List : 1 -> 0 -> 1 -> 7

Time Complexity: O(n), where n is the length of the longer of the two linked lists.

Space Complexity: O(n), where n is the length of the longer of the two linked lists. We use two stacks to store the nodes of the two linked lists which take up O(n) space in total.

Another Approach with time complexity O(N):
The given approach works as following steps:

First, we calculate sizes of both the linked lists, size1 and size2, respectively.
Then we traverse the bigger linked list, if any, and decrement till size of both become same.
Now we traverse both linked lists till end.
Now the backtracking occurs while performing addition.
Finally, the head node is returned of the linked list containing the answer.

C++

// C++ program to implement 
// the above approach
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
 
struct Node 
{
    int data;
    struct Node* next;
};
 
// Recursive function
Node* addition(Node* temp1, Node* temp2, 
               int size1, int size2)
{
    // Creating a new Node
    Node* newNode = 
    (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
 
    // Base case
    if (temp1->next == NULL && 
        temp2->next == NULL) 
    {
        // Addition of current nodes which is 
        // the last nodes of both linked lists
        newNode->data = (temp1->data + 
                         temp2->data);
 
        // Set this current node's link null
        newNode->next = NULL;
 
        // Return the current node
        return newNode;
    }
 
    // Creating a node that contains sum 
    // of previously added number
    Node* returnedNode = 
    (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
 
    // If sizes are same then we move in
    // both linked list
    if (size2 == size1) 
    {
        // Recursively call the function
        // move ahead in both linked list
        returnedNode = addition(temp1->next, temp2->next,
                                size1 - 1, size2 - 1);
 
        // Add the current nodes and append the carry
        newNode->data = (temp1->data + temp2->data) + 
                        ((returnedNode->data) / 10);
    }
 
    // Or else we just move in big linked 
    // list
    else
    {
        // Recursively call the function
        // move ahead in big linked list
        returnedNode = addition(temp1, temp2->next, 
                                size1, size2 - 1);
 
        // Add the current node and carry
        newNode->data = 
        (temp2->data) + 
        ((returnedNode->data) / 10);
    }
 
    // This node contains previously added 
    // numbers so we need to set only 
    // rightmost digit of it
    returnedNode->data = (returnedNode->data) % 10;
 
    // Set the returned node to the 
    // current nod
    newNode->next = returnedNode;
 
    // return the current node
    return newNode;
}
 
// Function to add two numbers represented 
// by nexted list.
struct Node* addTwoLists(struct Node* head1,
                         struct Node* head2)
{
    struct Node *temp1, 
                *temp2, *ans = NULL;
 
    temp1 = head1;
    temp2 = head2;
 
    int size1 = 0, size2 = 0;
 
    // calculating the size of first 
    // linked list
    while (temp1 != NULL) 
    {
        temp1 = temp1->next;
        size1++;
    }
 
    // Calculating the size of second 
    // linked list
    while (temp2 != NULL) 
    {
        temp2 = temp2->next;
        size2++;
    }
 
    Node* returnedNode = 
    (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
 
    // Traverse the bigger linked list
    if (size2 > size1) 
    {
        returnedNode = addition(head1, head2, 
                                size1, size2);
    }
    else
    {
        returnedNode = addition(head2, head1, 
                                size2, size1);
    }
 
    // Creating new node if head node is >10
    if (returnedNode->data >= 10) 
    {
        ans = (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
        ans->data = (returnedNode->data) / 10;
        returnedNode->data = returnedNode->data % 10;
        ans->next = returnedNode;
    }
    else
        ans = returnedNode;
 
    // Return the head node of linked list 
    // that contains answer
    return ans;
}
 
void Display(Node* head)
{
    if (head == NULL) 
    {
        return;
    }
    while (head->next != NULL) 
    {
        cout << head->data << " -> ";
        head = head->next;
    }
    cout << head->data << endl;
}
 
// Function that adds element at the 
// end of the Linked List
void push(Node** head_ref, int d)
{
    Node* new_node = 
    (struct Node*)malloc(sizeof(struct Node));
    new_node->data = d;
    new_node->next = NULL;
    if (*head_ref == NULL) 
    {
        new_node->next = *head_ref;
        *head_ref = new_node;
        return;
    }
 
    Node* last = *head_ref;
    while (last->next != NULL && 
           last != NULL) 
    {
        last = last->next;
    }
    last->next = new_node;
    return;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    // Creating two lists
    Node* first = NULL;
    Node* second = NULL;
    Node* sum = NULL;
    push(&first, 5);
    push(&first, 6);
    push(&first, 3);
    push(&second, 8);
    push(&second, 4);
    push(&second, 2);
    cout << "First List : ";
    Display(first);
    cout << "Second List : ";
    Display(second);
    sum = addTwoLists(first, second);
    cout << "Sum List : ";
    Display(sum);
    return 0;
}
// This code is contributed by Dharmik Parmar

Output:

First List : 5 -> 6 -> 3
Second List : 8 -> 4 -> 2
Sum List : 1 -> 4 -> 0 -> 5

Time complexity: O(n), as we traverse through both linked list and add the digits until we reach the end of the longer list.

Space complexity: O(1), as we are only using a single node to store the sum of the two digits in the current nodes.

Please refer complete article on Add two numbers represented by linked lists | Set 1 for more details!

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