Python Programming

Summary

  1. A recursive function is a function that calls itself to solve smaller instances of the same problem.
  2. An example of bad recursion is a function that calls itself indefinitely without a termination condition, leading to infinite recursion.
  3. A revised recursive function includes a base case to stop the recursion and prevent infinite loops.
  4. The base case in a recursive function is the condition under which the function stops calling itself.
  5. The recursive case in a function is where the function performs part of the work and calls itself with modified arguments.
  6. Recursion is useful for problems with self-similarity, such as summing a list, calculating factorials, and generating Fibonacci numbers.
  7. The recursive process involves the function breaking down a problem into smaller sub-problems until it reaches the base case.
  8. An example of recursion is the Euclidean algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of two numbers.
  9. Recursion offers clarity and elegance in code but can be less efficient due to the overhead of multiple function calls.
  10. While recursion simplifies complex problems, it must be used carefully to avoid performance issues and stack overflow errors.
Last updated: April 22, 2025