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Thread: question about recursion..

  1. #1
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    Default question about recursion..

    public class Recursion {
     
       public static double power(double a, int n){
    double tmp,result,answer;
     
           if(n % 2 == 0){
        tmp = power(a, n-1);
        result = (tmp*(n/2));
        answer = result * result;
     
     
        return answer;
    }
     else if (n % 2 == 1){
        tmp = power(a, n-1);
        result = (tmp*((n-1)/2));
        answer = result * result;
     
     
        return result;
     }
     
     
           return 1;
     
    }
        public static void main (String [] args){
            double tmp;
            tmp = power(2,10);
            System.out.println(tmp);
        }
    }
    it keeps printing 0...

    its supposed to print 2 to the power of 10 but i dont know what im doing wrong..
    its supposed to be, if n is even solution would be

    a^n = (a^n/2)^2 if n is even
    a^n = (a^((n-1)/2))^2 if n is odd.... any comments? thanks..
    Last edited by copeg; March 15th, 2011 at 08:48 PM.


  2. #2
    Super Moderator helloworld922's Avatar
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    Default Re: question about recursion..

    I'm a little surprised that code doesn't result in a stack overflow (it looks like it should from visual inspection).

    In a recursive algorithm, you must check for the base case(s) first. I don't see a base case before the recursive call, thus you have infinite recursion.

    What's the base case? It's when n=0.

    Additionally, I think you're recursive logic a little incorrect.
    a^n = (a^(n/2))^2 if n is even
    a^n = a*(a^((n-1)/2))^2 if n is odd

    Lastly, you're code implementing the recursion calls are off.

    You're calling power(a,n-1), but the recursive logic requires a^(n/2), not a^(n-1). This needs to be fixed for both the even and odd cases. Also, that strange multiplication by temp*(...) stuff needs to be removed.
    Last edited by helloworld922; March 16th, 2011 at 01:13 AM.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to helloworld922 For This Useful Post:

    gonfreecks (March 16th, 2011)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: question about recursion..

    that helped thank you

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