Recursive algorithms with the »algorithms« package?

Question

I need to write a recursive algorithm, using the algorithms package.

I thought of writing something like this:

\begin{algorithmic}
\IF {$x=1}
    \RETURN 1
\ELSE
    \RETURN recurse$(x-1)$
\ENDIF
\end{algorithmic}

The problem here is that it's not obvious that the function "recurse" will call this very function (that is unnamed to start with) again. Is there a better way of doing it, besides stating in the text that "recurse" - well, recurses?

In your original question it said "algorithmic package". Did you mean algorithmicx or algorithms (or maybe even algorithm2e)? — Hendrik Vogt
– Hendrik Vogt, Commented Feb 22, 2011 at 8:08
Sorry for my detailed response - the packages I import are \usepackage{algorithm} and \usepackage{algorithmic} . When I first wrote the algorithms, I did not know which package to used, and a Google search suggested that these were the packages usually used - hence I formatted my algorithms with these in mind. I can re-write them for a new package, of course, if it offers a solution to my problem. — Sewi
– Sewi, Commented Mar 2, 2011 at 11:48
That should read "delayed" instead of "detailed". I will use the algorithmicx package as Konrad suggested - being able to encapsulate the algorithm in a procedure should be the least ambiguous way of describing recursion. — Sewi
– Sewi, Commented Mar 2, 2011 at 11:55

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-13 12:35:54Z

11

There doesn’t seem to be a way of defining procedures in algorithms but you can use an algorithm environment with an appropriate \caption that names your algorithm.

Personally, though, I would switch to the superior algorithmicx package that defines a \Procedure macro:

\begin{algorithm}
\Procedure{recurse}{$x$}
  \If{$x=1$}
    \State\Return{$1$}
  \Else
    \State\Return{\Call{recurse}{$x-1$}}
  \EndIf
\EndProcedure
\end{algorithm}

edited Apr 13, 2017 at 12:35

CommunityBot

1

answered Feb 21, 2011 at 22:10

Konrad Rudolph

40.9k24 gold badges111 silver badges166 bronze badges

It may be that the OP is already using algorithmicx; see my comment to the question. (Doesn't matter too much for your answer :-))

Hendrik Vogt
– Hendrik Vogt

2011-02-22 08:09:24 +00:00
Commented Feb 22, 2011 at 8:09
A procedure macro was exactly what I was hoping for. The syntax of the algorithmicx package seems quite similar to the algorithmic package, so there should be little overhead rewriting the algorithms. Thank you, Konrad.

Sewi
– Sewi

2011-03-02 11:52:30 +00:00
Commented Mar 2, 2011 at 11:52

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