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Recursion

Recursion. A recursive definition is one which uses the word or concept being defined in the definition itself Example: “A computer is a machine that computes data” Recursion is a programming technique in which a method calls itself to solve a problem. Recursive Definitions.

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Recursion

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  1. Recursion • A recursive definition is one which uses the word or concept being defined in the definition itself • Example: “A computer is a machine that computes data” • Recursion is a programming technique in which a method calls itself to solve a problem

  2. Recursive Definitions • Mathematical formulas often are expressed recursively • N!, for any positive integer N, is defined to be the product of all integers between 1 and N inclusive • This definition can be expressed recursively as: 1! = 1 N! = N * (N-1)! • The concept of the factorial is defined in terms of another factorial until the base case of 1! is reached

  3. public int getSum (int num) { if (num == 1) // base case return 1; else return (num + getSum (num - 1)); } // climbing the mountain

  4. Infinite Recursion • All recursive definitions must have a non-recursive part • If they don't, there is no way to terminate the recursive path • The non-recursive part is called the base case, and is implemented using an if-statement • Recursion without a base case causes infinite recursion • This problem is similar to an infinite loop, and will cause a StackOverflow exception

  5. Recursive Programming • A method in Java can invoke (call) itself; if set up that way, it is called a recursive method • The code of a recursive method must be structured to handle both the base case and the recursive case • Each call to the method sets up a new execution environment, with new parameters and new local variables • As always, when the method execution completes, control returns to the method that invoked it (which may be an earlier invocation of itself)

  6. Demos: • RecursionClass • RecursionClient

  7. Recursion vs. Iteration (looping) • Just because we can use recursion to solve a problem, doesn't mean we should • Sometimes a loop is easier to understand, and more efficient • Nevertheless, recursive solutions often are more simple and efficient than iterative solutions • You must be able to determine when recursion is the correct technique to use • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Hanoi

  8. Assignments • In a class called Recursion2, write the following methods: • factorial( ) -- receives an int parameter, return the factorial • exponent( ) – receieves 2 int parameters, x and y, returns x to the y power • Obviously, these must be recursive methods. • Now, write a client, Recursion2Client, to test the methods. • Error check: other than the “x” in exponent, parameters must be positive.

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