12.2 Simple math recursion

Learning objectives

By the end of this section you should be able to

• Identify a recursive case and a base case in a recursive algorithm.
• Demonstrate how to compute a recursive solution for the factorial function.

Calculating a factorial

The factorial of a positive integer is defined as the product of the integer and the positive integers less than the integer.

Ex: 5! = 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1

Written as a general equation for a positive integer n: n! = n * (n - 1) * (n - 2) *... * 1

The above formula for the factorial of n results in a recursive formula: n! = n * (n - 1)!

Thus, the factorial of n depends upon the value of the factorial at n - 1. The factorial of n can be found by repeating the factorial of n - 1 until (n - 1)! = 1! (we know that 1! = 1). This result can be used to build the overall solution as seen in the animation below.

Defining a recursive function

Recursive algorithms are written in Python as functions. In a recursive function different actions are performed according to the input parameter value. A critical part of a recursive function is that the function must call itself.

A value for which the recursion applies is called the recursive case. In the recursive case, the function calls itself with a smaller portion of the input parameter. Ex: In the recursive function factorial, the initial parameter is an integer n. In the function's recursive case, the argument passed to factorial is n - 1, which is smaller than n.

A value of n for which the solution is known is called the base case. The base case stops the recursion. A recursive algorithm must include a base case; otherwise, the algorithm may result in an infinite computation.

To calculate a factorial, a recursive function, factorial is defined with an integer input parameter, n. When n > 1, the recursive case applies. The factorial calls itself with a smaller argument, n - 1. When n == 1, the solution is known because 1! is 1; therefore, n == 1 is a base case.

Note: 0! is defined to be 1; therefore, n == 0 is a second base case for factorial. When n < 1, an error is returned.