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Recursion in Python, as well as in programming in general, refers to a technique where a function calls itself to solve a problem. This can be a powerful and elegant way to solve certain types of problems, especially those that exhibit a recursive structure or can be broken down into smaller, similar subproblems.
Here’s how recursion works in Python:
Base Case:
Every recursive function needs a base case or termination condition. This is a condition that specifies when the function should stop calling itself and return a result. Without a base case, the recursion would continue indefinitely and lead to a stack overflow.
Recursive Case:
In addition to the base case, a recursive function also has a recursive case. This is where the function calls itself with modified arguments. The goal of each recursive call is to move closer to the base case, typically by reducing the problem’s size or complexity.
When you call a recursive function in Python, the following steps take place:
- The function is called with a certain input.
- The function checks if the input meets the base case criteria. If so, it returns a result.
- If the base case is not met, the function performs…