Simple Concepts Of Functional Programming And Tailrecusrion

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of the `match` operator in functional programming?

To match an expression with given patterns and evaluate differently based on the match. (correct)

To iterate over a collection

To define loops

To declare variables

In functional programming, loops are commonly used instead of recursion.

False (B)

The symbol `_` in a match expression is called a ______.

wild card

What is the benefit of using guards in pattern matching?

Guards refine the pattern matching by adding conditions to the cases. Signup and view all the answers

What is tail recursion?

A recursive function where the last operation is the recursive call. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The accumulator technique enhances performance of recursive function calls by storing intermediate results.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of recursion, what is the purpose of an accumulator?

to remember already computed values and pass them to the recursive call Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

Match operator = Used for pattern matching against expressions Guards = Add conditions to refine pattern matches Tail recursion = Recursive function where the last operation is the recursive call Accumulator technique = Used for remembering and pass already computed values to the recursive call Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between a tail-recursive and a non-tail-recursive function?

In tail-recursive functions, the last operation is the recursive call itself, while for non-tail-recursive it is something else. (A) Signup and view all the answers

The accumulator technique is used to convert a non-tail-recursive function into a tail-recursive one.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it beneficial for a function to be tail-recursive in Scala?

Because Scala can optimize tail-recursive functions into loops, reducing stack space usage and improving performance. Signup and view all the answers

In the provided tail-recursive factorial example, the parameter `acc` serves as an ______.

accumulator Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a function that is NOT tail recursive?

A new stack frame has to be created every time the function calls itself recursively (C) Signup and view all the answers

Tail-recursive functions always require more memory than their non-tail-recursive counterparts.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Match the function type with its property.

Tail-recursive function = Can be optimized by Scala into a loop Non-tail-recursive function = May cause stack overflow for deep recursion Accumulator = Used to store intermediate calculations in tail recursive calls Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of the tail recursive version of the `boom` method?

The tail recursive version avoids stack overflow because it is optimised into a loop by Scala. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Pattern Matching

A method in functional programming that evaluates an expression by comparing it to a set of patterns, each with a corresponding action to perform. It's like a switch-case statement, but more focused on pattern recognition.

Wildcard in Pattern Matching

The _ symbol used in pattern matching. It acts as a wildcard, matching any expression, similar to the 'else' clause.

Guards in Pattern Matching

A mechanism to apply additional conditions to a pattern match. It helps refine the matching process by imposing constraints on the matched value.

Tail Recursion

A recursive function that uses the last call as the recursive call. This means the function only returns the result of the recursive call, making it more efficient.