/**
* Returns the polynomial obtained by multiplying the given polynomial p with this polynomial -
* DOES NOT change this polynomial
*
* @param p Polynomial with which this polynomial is to be multiplied
* @return A new polynomial which is the product of this polynomial and p.
*/
public Polynomial multiply(Polynomial p) {
// If multiplying by zero, return the null list
if (p.poly == null) return p;
else if (this.poly == null) return this;
Polynomial newList = new Polynomial();
// Nested loop to multiply terms. Multiplies first term by every term in second list and so on.
for (Node list1 = this.poly; list1 != null; list1 = list1.next) {
for (Node list2 = p.poly; list2 != null; list2 = list2.next) {
Node n =
new Node(
list1.term.coeff * list2.term.coeff, list1.term.degree + list2.term.degree, null);
newList.addToEnd(n);
}
}
// sorts newList in ascending order and then combines like degrees.
newList.sort();
newList.compress();
return newList;
}
