Linked List: Find the middle element

Question: Given a singly linked list, find the node in the middle.

Solution 1: Walk the linked list to find the length of the list. Lets say n is the length of the list. Walk the list again upto ⌊ n/2 ⌋.

Solution 2: Use two pointers. Move one pointer at twice the speed of the second. When the 1st pointer reaches the end of the list, the 2nd pointer will be pointing to the middle node. Note: If the list has even number of nodes, the middle node will be floor of ⌊ n/2 ⌋.

Code:

Node * FindMiddle(Node *listHead)
{
  Node *ptr1, *ptr2;  // we need 2 pointers
  ptr1 = ptr2 = listHead; // set the pointers to point to the list head initially

  int i=0;

  while(ptr1->next != NULL) // keep looping until we reach the tail
                              // (next will be NULL for the last node)
  {
      if(i == 0)
      {
          ptr1 = ptr1->next; //increment only the 1st pointer
          i=1;
      }
      else if( i == 1)
      {
          ptr1 = ptr1->next; //increment both pointers
          ptr2 = ptr2->next;
          i = 0;
      }
  }
  return ptr2;        //now return the ptr2 which points to the middle node
}