Traversing linked list and modifying or inserting node C++ - c++

Question

I am attempting to write a function that will traverse a linked list, wherein the nodes represent terms of a polynomial. Each node includes fields for coefficient (a double named coeff), power (a size_t named power), and link (a NodePtr *next). The function is called with a double variable value, which represents the coefficient the node should have, and a size_t variable i, which represents its power. The function should traverse the linked list looking for the node with power i. If the list already contains a node with power i, its coefficient should be changed to hold the new value. If it did not previously have a node with power i, such a term should be added with the coefficient value. The list should be ordered by power (i.e. the node with power 3 should be the node 3 in the list).
Below is the code I have written thus far, though it currently generates the following error:
Unhandled exception at 0x0130D2FA in Project 3.exe: 0xC0000005: Access violation writing location 0x0000000C.
I cannot figure out why the error is generated, so that is my first issue. The second is that I believe my function may have some logical errors and does not correctly modify and create new nodes.
I have been stumped on this for days and cannot test my other functions without this having this one in working order, so any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
void Poly::setCoeff(double value, size_t i)
{
if (0 <= i){
Node* prev = new Node();
Node* curr = new Node();
Node* newNode = new Node();
newNode->coeff = value;
newNode->power = i;
curr = myHead; // Initialize curr to myHead;
if (curr != nullptr)
{
while (curr->next != nullptr && curr->power != i)
{
prev = curr;
curr = curr->next;
}
if (curr->power == i)
{
curr->coeff = value;
}
else if (curr->next == nullptr && i == curr->power + 1)
{
curr->next = new Node; // Creates a node at the end of the list
curr = curr->next; // Points to that node
curr->next = nullptr; // Prevents it from going any further
curr->power = i;
curr->coeff = value;
}
else
{
prev->next = newNode;
newNode->next = curr;
}
}
else
{
curr->next = newNode;
curr = curr->next;
}
}
else
{
throw std::out_of_range("Index out of range");
}
}

Answer 1

It is a series of clear incorrect assumptions of how dynamic memory is managed in C++ that is getting you into heap-loads of trouble in this code. Were this not an academic exercise I would tell you simply to throw it all away and use:
std::map<size_t, double>
also known as: The Good Stuff. It would do literally everything you need this code to accomplish.
But this is academia. Like most things in academia they make you crawl through trenches before you learn how it should be. So, I will expose what is deficient in your code, but suffice it to say, once you learn all this you will strive not to have to do it in the first place by using tools already available to you.
In other words, unless someone said I had to do this with a hand-coded linked list implementation, I would use the above map instead. You can't (yet), but know it is there.
Your Code
You didn't include the definition of Node, but I can only assume it looks something like this:
struct Node
{
double coeff;
size_t power;
Node *next;
};
Whether this is nested within class Poly or not (and it likely should be if the latter) is likewise unclear. It isn't entirely relevant to the question, but mentioned here to attempt to drive home that, when asking a question on SO, provide enough info to minimize assumptions that may affect the answers your getting.
With that your code:
void Poly::setCoeff(double value, size_t i)
{
if (0 <= i) // NOTE: not needed, unsigned, will always be i >= 0
{
Node* prev = new Node(); // NOTE: wrong. leaks memory.
Node* curr = new Node(); // NOTE: same as above
Node* newNode = new Node(); // NOTE: **may** leak (see below)
newNode->coeff = value;
newNode->power = i;
curr = myHead;
if (curr != nullptr) // OK: check for null good
{
// NOTE: should be checking `curr`, not curr->next
while (curr->next != nullptr && curr->power != i)
{
prev = curr;
curr = curr->next;
}
// NOTE: should check curr for NULL first.
if (curr->power == i)
{
curr->coeff = value;
}
// NOTE: same here. also,
else if (curr->next == nullptr && i == curr->power + 1)
{
// NOTE: this code path will leak newNode allocated at the
// top of the function.
curr->next = new Node;
curr = curr->next;
curr->next = nullptr;
curr->power = i;
curr->coeff = value;
}
else
{
prev->next = newNode;
newNode->next = curr;
}
}
else
{ // NOTE: this is where your mainline fault is coming from. you
// just validated curr can be NULL here (and will be on initial)
curr->next = newNode;
curr = curr->next;
}
}
// NOTE: this can't happen, as i can never be less than zero
else
{
throw std::out_of_range("Index out of range");
}
}
The following are somewhat obvious.
Your memory management is not correct, and includes introducing memory leaks.
Your pointer management is likewise poor. Pointers are not like Java references, and nothing will get you in trouble faster in a C/C++ program than improper pointer management.
The algorithm doesn't maintain the mandate the list be ordered.
Changes to Your Code
The requirements for your code mandate an ordered list is maintained, yet your coefficient insertion algorithm makes no attempts at fulfilling that requirement. The setCoeff member is required to insert a new term if the matching exponent cannot be found, and if kept sorted, you'll know by proper enumeration whether that is the case by discovering (a) an exponent beyond yours, or (b) the end of the list, whichever happens first.
i is a size_t value, which means it is a magnitude for object counting. The standard mandates size_t is unsigned, which means it cannot be negative. This means checking for i >= 0 is useless. It will always be so.
A new node is allocated before know you need one. Remember, this is supposed to update an existing node if you find a matching exponent entry. Only if there were no match should a new node be required.
Your first-insert detection needs a complete redeux. It is guaranteed to invoke undefined behavior.
First make it easier on yourself. Provide a Node constructor that sets up a node via parameters so you can stop littering your code with that setup. In doing so, it becomes both easier to read and safer, since you initialize all member variables at construction.
struct Node
{
Node *next;
double coeff;
size_t power;
Node(double coeff_, size_t power_, Node *next_=nullptr)
: coeff(coeff_), power(power_), next(next_)
{}
};
With that, things will get considerably easier. The punch list above can be fulfilled with the following changes:
void Poly::setCoeff(double value, size_t i)
{
Node *prev = nullptr; // points to prior node
Node *curr = myHead; // points to current node
while (curr && curr->power < i)
{
prev = curr; // remember current node...
curr = curr->next; // ... then move to next node
}
// only allocate a new node if
// (a) we reached the end of the list (curr == NULL)
// (b) we reached a node with non match (will be larger exponent)
if (!curr || curr->power != i)
{
// **NOW** allocate the new node. we know we need one and we
// have a pretty solid idea where it goes.
Node *newNode = new Node(value, i, curr);
// if prev is set, then it means the new node goes somewhere
// *past* the head pointer otherwise it will become the new head.
if (prev)
prev->next = newNode;
else
myHead = newNode;
}
else
{ // found matching node
curr->coeff = value;
}
}
I sincerely hope it helps, and wish you the best of luck in trenching through the cruft before you get to The Good Stuff. Its worth it in the end.

Answer 2

I will follow up with the answer using a std::map (as WhozCraig's excellent answer mentions):
#include <map>
#include <iostream>
typedef std::map<size_t, double> Polynomial;
void AddCoefficientAndPower(Polynomial& poly, double coeff, size_t power)
{
// This does everything your assignment asked for, except for implementing
// all of that linked list stuff
poly[power] = coeff;
}
using namespace std;
int main()
{
Polynomial myPoly;
// add the coefficient and power
AddCoefficientAndPower(myPoly, 3, 1);
AddCoefficientAndPower(myPoly, 4, 2);
AddCoefficientAndPower(myPoly, 9, 0);
AddCoefficientAndPower(myPoly, 6, 3);
// This one will replace the previous (4,2)
AddCoefficientAndPower(myPoly, 3, 2);
// write out the coefficients followed by the power
Polynomial::iterator it = myPoly.begin();
while (it != myPoly.end())
{
cout << it->second << "^" << it->first << "\n";
++it;
}
}
Output:
9^0
3^1
3^2
6^3
Basically your entire assignment is a one line C++ statement in AddCoefficent that inserts an item in the map, and replaces an existing entry if one did exist.
Note -- no memory leaks, no calls to new, no crashes, etc.
Also, if your requirements were to also include any integral power value, then the above method works for negative, 0, and positive power values.