Difference between revisions of "Recursion"
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| − | '''Recursion''' is the repeated application of a procedure or definition. | + | '''Recursion''' is the repeated application of a procedure or definition through reference to itself. |
===In Computing=== | ===In Computing=== | ||
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:3. Write a function to compute any number to the power of a non-negative integer. | :3. Write a function to compute any number to the power of a non-negative integer. | ||
| − | == | + | ==External links== |
| − | + | [http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-00sc-introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-spring-2011/unit-1/lecture-6-recursion/ Unit on recursion in free online computer science course from MIT.] | |
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[[Category:Computer Science]] | [[Category:Computer Science]] | ||
Revision as of 14:23, February 26, 2013
Recursion is the repeated application of a procedure or definition through reference to itself.
In Computing
Recursion is a technique whereby a function, in order to accomplish a task, calls itself to accomplish part of the task.
Every recursive solution involves two major parts or cases, the second part having three components:
- base case(s), in which the problem is simple enough to be solved directly, and
- recursive case(s). A recursive case has three components:
- 1. divide the problem into one or more simpler or smaller parts of the problem,
- 2. call the function (recursively) on each part, and
- 3. combine the solutions of the parts into a solution for the problem.
These exercises are useful to see examples of recursion:
- 1. Write a function to compute the sum of all numbers from 1 to n.
- 2. Write a function to compute 2 to the power of a non-negative integer.
- 3. Write a function to compute any number to the power of a non-negative integer.
External links
Unit on recursion in free online computer science course from MIT.
