Computer science
Algorithms

Recursive Algorithms

1 project
7 articles
4 challenges
Learn the concept of recursion, a technique that is often used in algorithms. See how to use recursion to calculate factorial and powers of a number, plus to generate art.

Recursion

The factorial function

Challenge: Iterative factorial

Recursive factorial

Challenge: Recursive factorial

Properties of recursive algorithms

Using recursion to determine whether a word is a palindrome

Challenge: is a string a palindrome?

Computing powers of a number

Challenge: Recursive powers

The Sierpinksi gasket

Project: Recursive art

One of the fun ways to apply the principles of recursion is to generate swirling, spiraling, tessellating art, by deciding what you're drawing, how to change it at each level of recursion, and when to stop. We've started a simple example ...