Find maximum value in an array by recursion

Question

// Find a maximum element in the array.
findMax(A)
   findMaxHelper(A, 0, A.length)

findMaxHelper(A, left, right)
   if (left == right - 1) 
      return A[left]
   else
      max1 = findMaxHelper(A, left, (right + left) / 2)
      max2 = findMaxHelper(A, (right + left) / 2, right)

      if (max1 > max2) 
         return max1 
      else 
         return max2

I am having a hard time understanding what is happening in this pseudo-code.

Can someone help explain what is happening at each line. I need to understand this code before I can answer the questions.

I know that the function findMax calls the helper function findMaxHelper, then findMaxHelper uses recursion. Other than that, I really don't understand it.

Answer 1

You are using Divide and Conquer algorithm for finding the maximum element from the array. First, you are dividing the array into individual elements (divide), then you are comparing the elements (conquer). You are dividing the array using calling findMaxHelper recursively.

The general idea of Divide and conquer is shown in the figure:

Example:

Here max is same as your findMaxHelper function with two arguments i.e. left and right.

Check this example for more in depth understanding of the concept.

Answer 2

Jaguar has put the concept quite nicely and Paul has provided correct and detailed explanation. To add to this , I would like to share a simple C code that gives you an idea how the code gets executed. Here's the code with the same input Jaguar used :

#include<stdio.h>
int findMaxHelper(int A[], int left, int right){
   int max1,max2;
   int static tabcount;
   int loop;
   for(loop = 0 ; loop <tabcount;loop++) printf("\t");
   tabcount++;
   printf(" Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = %d ,right = %d)\n\n",left,right);
   if (left == right - 1){ 
      for(loop = 0 ; loop <tabcount;loop++) printf("\t");
      printf("\b\b\b\b\b\b\bLeaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = %d ,right = %d)| returning %d\n\n",left,right , A[left]);
      tabcount--;
      return A[left];
   }
   else
   {
      max1 = findMaxHelper(A, left, (right + left) / 2);
      max2 = findMaxHelper(A, (right + left) / 2, right);

      if (max1 > max2){ 
    for(loop = 0 ; loop <tabcount;loop++) printf("\t");
    printf("\b\b\b\b\b\b\bLeaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = %d ,right = %d) | returning max1=%d\n\n",left,right,max1);
    tabcount--;
    return max1;
    }
      else {
     for(loop = 0 ; loop <tabcount;loop++) printf("\t");
     printf("\b\b\b\b\b\b\bLeaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = %d ,right = %d)| returning max2=%d\n\n",left,right,max2);
     tabcount--;
     return max2;
    }

   }
}

int main (){
    int A[] = { 34,3,47,91,32,0 };
    int Ans =findMaxHelper(A,0,7);  
    printf( "And The Answer Is = %d \n",Ans);
}

U can copy paste the code on ur linux machine ...Maybe put sleep(5) after every printf and see how recursion ACTUALLY works !... Hope this helps... I will also share the output from my system here :

Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 0 ,right = 7)

     Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 0 ,right = 3)

         Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 0 ,right = 1)

         Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 0 ,right = 1)| returning 34

         Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 1 ,right = 3)

             Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 1 ,right = 2)

             Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 1 ,right = 2)| returning 3

             Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 2 ,right = 3)

             Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 2 ,right = 3)| returning 47

         Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 1 ,right = 3)| returning max2=47

     Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 0 ,right = 3)| returning max2=47

     Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 3 ,right = 7)

         Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 3 ,right = 5)

             Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 3 ,right = 4)

             Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 3 ,right = 4)| returning 91

             Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 4 ,right = 5)

             Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 4 ,right = 5)| returning 32

         Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 3 ,right = 5) | returning max1=91

         Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 5 ,right = 7)

             Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 5 ,right = 6)

             Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 5 ,right = 6)| returning 0

             Entering: findMaxHelper(A, left = 6 ,right = 7)

             Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 6 ,right = 7)| returning 0

         Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 5 ,right = 7)| returning max2=0

     Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 3 ,right = 7) | returning max1=91

 Leaving: findMaxHelper(A, left = 0 ,right = 7)| returning max2=91

And The Answer Is = 91