Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • What is the running time of the following recursive method: 

       public static void recurse(int n)
   {
       if ( n == 0 )
          doPrimitive();
       else
       {
          doPrimitive();
          recurse(n-1);
       }
   }

    Analysis: 

        How many times will doPrimitive() be executed 
    when input of the recurse method is n ?


    The analysis of recursive algorithms
    require the use of:

         recurrence relations....

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • What is the running time of the following recursive method: 

       public static void recurse(int n)
   {
       if ( n == 0 )
          doPrimitive();
       else
       {
          doPrimitive();
          recurse(n-1);
       }
   }

    Assume: C(n) = # times that doPrimitive() is executed when recurse() is called with n: 

     Let C(n) = # times that doPrimitive() is executed when input = n

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • What is the running time of the following recursive method: 

       public static void recurse(int n)
   {
       if ( n == 0 )
          doPrimitive();
       else
       {
          doPrimitive();
          recurse(n-1);
       }
   }

    C(0) = 1 because recurse() will execute doPrimitive() one time and terminate: 

     Let C(n) = # times that doPrimitive() is executed when input = n

 C(0) = 1    // It's the base case

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • What is the running time of the following recursive method: 

       public static void recurse(int n)
   {
       if ( n == 0 )
          doPrimitive();
       else
       {
          doPrimitive();
          recurse(n-1);
       }
   }

    When n > 0, recurse(n) will execute doPrimitive() once and calls recurse(n-1): 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(0) = 1    // It's the base case 
 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0

     because:
            recurse(n) will invoke recurse(n-1)
            and by definition, the # times that doPrimitive()
            is executed when input = n-1 is: C(n-1)

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • Therefore:   the recurrence relation that represents the running time is: 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  



   We now proceed to solve this recurrence relation...

   The commonly used technique is "telescoping"
   I found a video on YouTube on this technique: click here

   I will show you this "telescoping" technique
   in the next few slides...

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • Solving the recurrence relation: with "telescoping": 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)    // We start with the general recurrence relation
                      // and reduce it to the base case

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • We can use C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) to obtain a formula for C(n-1) by substituting n ==> n-1: 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) ==> C(n-1) = 1 + C((n-1)-1) = 1 + C(n-2)

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • Substitute the expression for C(n-1) in the formula for C(n): 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) ==> C(n-1) = 1 + C((n-1)-1) = 1 + C(n-2)
      = 1 + 1 + C(n-2)

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • We can use C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) to obtain a formula for C(n-2) by substituting n ==> n-2: 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) ==> C(n-2) = 1 + C((n-2)-1) = 1 + C(n-3)
      = 1 + 1 + C(n-2)

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • Substitute the expression for C(n-2) in the formula for C(n): 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) ==> C(n-2) = 1 + C((n-2)-1) = 1 + C(n-3)
      = 1 + 1 + C(n-2)
      = 1 + 1 + 1 + C(n-3)

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • We can see a pattern and can predict the next progression: 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) ==> C(n-3) = 1 + C((n-3)-1) = 1 + C(n-4)
      = 1 + 1 + C(n-2)
      = 1 + 1 + 1 + C(n-3)
      = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + C(n-4)
      
  (1) gets an extra   +1  term
  (2) C(n-3) becomes C(n-3-1)

  (If you don't see the pattern, substitute C(n-3) and work it out)

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • Repeat these steps n times and we will get C(0): 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) ==> C(n-2) = 1 + C((n-2)-1) = 1 + C(n-3)
      = 1 + 1 + C(n-2)
      = 1 + 1 + 1 + C(n-3)
      = ....
      = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + ... + 1 + C(0)
       <----------------------->
             n times

Analyzing recursive algorithms

  • Substitute C(0) = 1 and obtain the final result: 

     Let C(n) = # times that recurse() is executed when input = n

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1)     for n > 0,   and  C(0) = 1  

 C(n) = 1 + C(n-1) ==> C(n-2) = 1 + C((n-2)-1) = 1 + C(n-3)
      = 1 + 1 + C(n-2)
      = 1 + 1 + 1 + C(n-3)
      = ....
      = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + ... + 1 + 1
       <----------------------->
             n times

      = n + 1    ==>  Runtime complexity = O(n)

DEMO: demo/13-analysis/Demo9.java