Introduction to Recursive Programming

Recursion is a fundamental topic in computer science, but one that is frequently taught in a fragmented way as part of an introductory course and then set aside for such electives as discrete programming and difference equations. Rubio-Sánchez (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain) believes that there are better ways to approach a concept so powerfully connected to computation. His book provides a comprehensive and approachable treatment of recursive programming. The text contains mathematical proofs, as well as clear methods that students can follow to derive new results and expand their knowledge in areas the book may not cover. Many of the fundamental problems that recursion can solve are presented and discussed; more advanced problems are addressed through decomposition and analysis. The book also contains a section on algorithm analysis, which helps form the basis for more advanced material on computational complexity. This book is useful as a textbook for introductory programming courses when an instructor adopts a more fundamental approach than imperative programming, but it can also serve as a useful reference for those who wish to explore recursive programming on their own, or for algorithm designers in the industry.

--L. Benedicenti, University of New Brunswick (CHOICE)