Insert at Specific Position in Doubly Linked List in DSA Python - Interactive Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to create a new node with the given data.

DSA Python

new_node = Node([1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aitem

Bvalue

Cnode

Ddata

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a variable name that is not defined in the function.

Passing the node instead of the data.

We create a new node by passing the data value to the Node constructor.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to check if the position to insert is at the head (position 1).

DSA Python

if position == [1]:

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A1

B-1

C0

DNone

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Checking for position 0 instead of 1.

Using None or negative numbers for position.

Position 1 means inserting at the head of the doubly linked list.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the loop that moves to the node before the insertion point.

DSA Python

for _ in range([1] - 2):
    current = current.next

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aposition

Bposition + 1

Cposition - 1

Dposition - 2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using position - 1 or position - 2 incorrectly causing off-by-one errors.

Using position + 1 which goes too far.

We loop position - 2 times to reach the node before the insertion point.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to correctly insert the new node between nodes.

DSA Python

new_node.next = current.[1]
new_node.prev = current
current.[2] = new_node

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Anext

Bprev

Cnext_node

Dprevious

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using prev instead of next causing wrong links.

Using incorrect attribute names like next_node.

We set new_node.next to current.next and then current.next to new_node to insert properly.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to update the previous pointer of the next node after insertion.

DSA Python

if new_node.next is not None:
    new_node.next.[1] = new_node

return [2]

# Function ends here

head = [3]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aprev

Bhead

Cnew_node

Dnext

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Not updating the prev pointer of the next node.

Returning or assigning the wrong variable.

We update new_node.next.prev to new_node, return head, and assign head to the function call result.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of inserting a node at a specific position in a doubly linked list?

easy

A. To add a new node exactly where you want in the list

B. To delete a node from the list

C. To reverse the entire list

D. To find the length of the list

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand insertion in doubly linked list

   Insertion at a specific position means adding a new node exactly at that place, shifting others if needed.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other operations

   Deleting removes nodes, reversing changes order, and length counts nodes, none insert at a position.

3. Final Answer:

   To add a new node exactly where you want in the list -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Insert at position = Add node at exact place [OK]

Hint: Insertion means adding, not deleting or reversing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing insertion with deletion
• Thinking insertion changes list order
• Mixing insertion with counting nodes

2. Which of the following is the correct way to update the previous pointer of the new node when inserting at position 3 in a doubly linked list?

easy

A. new_node.prev = null

B. new_node.prev = head

C. new_node.prev = head.next.next

D. new_node.prev = head.next

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the node before position 3

   Position 3 means the new node comes after the second node, so prev points to node at position 2 (head.next).

2. Step 2: Assign previous pointer correctly

   new_node.prev must point to the node at position 2, which is head.next.

3. Final Answer:

   new_node.prev = head.next -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Prev pointer = node before insertion [OK]

Hint: Prev points to node before insertion position [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting prev to null instead of correct node
• Confusing prev with next pointer
• Using head instead of node before position

3. What will be the output list after inserting a node with value 10 at position 2 in the doubly linked list 5 <-> 15 <-> 20?

medium

A. 5 <-> 15 <-> 10 <-> 20 <-> null

B. 5 <-> 10 <-> 15 <-> 20 <-> null

C. 10 <-> 5 <-> 15 <-> 20 <-> null

D. 5 <-> 15 <-> 20 <-> 10 <-> null

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand position 2 insertion

   Position 2 means the new node goes after the first node (5) and before the second node (15).

2. Step 2: Insert node with value 10 at position 2

   List becomes 5 <-> 10 <-> 15 <-> 20, with null at the end.

3. Final Answer:

   5 <-> 10 <-> 15 <-> 20 <-> null -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Insert at 2 shifts old 2nd node right [OK]

Hint: Insert pushes existing nodes right from position [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Inserting after instead of at position
• Placing new node at wrong position
• Confusing list order after insertion

4. Given this code snippet for insertion at position 3, what is the error?

temp = head
for _ in range(2):
    temp = temp.next
new_node.next = temp.next
new_node.prev = temp
if temp.next:
    temp.next.prev = new_node
temp.next = new_node

medium

A. Loop runs one time too many causing temp to be wrong

B. new_node.prev should be temp.prev

C. new_node.next should be temp

D. Missing check if head is null before loop

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze loop and temp assignment

   The loop with range(2) moves temp from head (position 1) to position 2, then to position 3.

2. Step 2: Identify the position error

   For insertion at position 3 (new node becomes position 3), temp must be at position 2 to insert after it; range(2) overshoots to position 3, so loop runs one time too many.

3. Final Answer:

   Loop runs one time too many causing temp to be wrong -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Loop range should be (position - 2) [OK]

Hint: Loop iterations = position - 2 for temp at (position - 1) [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Loop runs one time too many
• Confusing prev and next pointers
• Incorrect loop count for position

5. You have a doubly linked list: 1 <-> 3 <-> 5 <-> 7 <-> null. You want to insert a node with value 4 at position 3. After insertion, what will be the correct sequence of the list?

medium

A. 4 <-> 1 <-> 3 <-> 5 <-> 7 <-> null

B. 1 <-> 4 <-> 3 <-> 5 <-> 7 <-> null

C. 1 <-> 3 <-> 4 <-> 5 <-> 7 <-> null

D. 1 <-> 3 <-> 5 <-> 7 <-> 4 <-> null

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify position 3 in the list

   Position 3 means the new node goes after the second node (3) and before the third node (5).

2. Step 2: Insert node with value 4 at position 3

   The list becomes 1 <-> 3 <-> 4 <-> 5 <-> 7 <-> null, maintaining order and links.

3. Final Answer:

   1 <-> 3 <-> 4 <-> 5 <-> 7 <-> null -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Insert at position 3 places node between 3 and 5 [OK]

Hint: Insert at position shifts old node at that position right [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Inserting before position 1 instead of 3
• Appending at end instead of position
• Mixing node values order after insertion