Transform linked list to tree
Last updated: October 25, 2025
Quick Overview
Given a singly linked list, transform it into a balanced binary search tree (BST). The linked list is sorted in ascending order, and you need to ensure that the resulting tree maintains the properties of a BST while being height-balanced. Your function should return the root node of the constructed tree.
Workday
October 25, 20256
6
842 solved
Given a singly linked list, transform it into a balanced binary search tree (BST). The linked list is sorted in ascending order, and you need to ensure that the resulting tree maintains the properties of a BST while being height-balanced. Your function should return the root node of the constructed tree.
This coding problem is frequently asked during Technical Screen at Workday. The interviewer is testing your ability to translate a problem into clean, working code while discussing time and space complexity. Workday expects candidates to write production-quality code, not just solve the puzzle.
What the Interviewer Expects
- Recognize the underlying problem pattern (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS, etc.)
- Discuss multiple approaches and trade-offs before coding
- Implement an optimal solution with clean, production-quality code
- Handle all edge cases including boundary conditions and invalid input
- Optimize both time and space complexity with clear justification
- Test your solution systematically with well-chosen examples
Key Topics to Cover
How to Approach This
- Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
- Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
- Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
- Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
- Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
- How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
- How would you test this solution thoroughly?
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
- Can you solve this in a single pass?
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Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
To transform a sorted singly linked list into a balanced binary search tree (BST), we can utilize the divide-and-conquer approach. The reason for this is that a balanced BST requires the middle el...
Approach
- Find the Middle Node: Use a fast and slow pointer technique to find the middle node of the linked list. The slow pointer advances one step at a time, while the fast pointer advances two steps. ...
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