Floyd's tortoise and hare detects a cycle in O(1) space, but the part that separates strong candidates is the second phase: a short distance argument that pinpoints exactly where the loop begins. Here is the answer and the math.
Updated Aug 2026 · Grounded in real Applied AI Engineer interview loops and written to a senior-engineer editorial bar.
Floyd's tortoise and hare detects a cycle in O(1) space, but the part that separates strong candidates is the second phase: a short distance argument that pinpoints exactly where the loop begins. Here is the answer and the math.
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