Recursion - Java

Question

I am working on a program where I have to use recursion to calculate the sum of 1/3 + 2/5 + 3/7 + 4/9 + ... + i / (2i + 1). However, I am not sure how to make my program show the term that must be added in order to reach the number enter by the user. For example. If I enter 12, I want to know how many terms of the series [1/3 + 2/5 + 3/7 + 4/9 + ... + i / (2i + 1)] were added to get approximately to the number 12.

What I don't want to get is the sum of inputting 12 which in this case is 5.034490247342584 rather I want to get the term that if I were to sum all numbers up to that term I would get something close to 12.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

This is my code

import java.util.Scanner;
public class Recursion {
public static void main(String[] args) {

    double number;
    Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);

    System.out.println("Enter a value=  ");
    number = input.nextInt();

    System.out.println(sum(number) + " is the  term that should be added in order to reach " + number);

}

public static double sum(double k) {
    if (k == 1) 
        return 1/3;
    else 
        return ((k/(2*k+1))+ sum(k-1));
     }  
}

why is your sum function treating k as the number of terms to add if you want it to be treated as the limit of the sum of a sequence? — Dan O
– Dan O, Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 17:47
You have this question kind of inside out. If you want to know how many terms you need to add to get to 12, you'll have to reverse your algorithm. Keep adding successive k / (2k + 1) for larger and larger k until you hit your desired target. With your current sum method, you would have to start guessing at starting values of k and perform a sort of "binary search" for an acceptably close solution. — jgitter
– jgitter, Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 17:47
... Why do you want to know how many iterations it would take? Just check for a value close to the desired value with a known delta. Then you know how many iterations it takes. — Dave Newton
– Dave Newton, Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 17:47
"[...] where I have to use recursion" Why do you have to use recursion? In your case a while loop seems more appropriate to achieve your goal. — Laf
– Laf, Commented Apr 28, 2014 at 17:47

jgitter · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-28 17:48:17Z

2

You have this question kind of inside out. If you want to know how many terms you need to add to get to 12, you'll have to reverse your algorithm. Keep adding successive k / (2k + 1) for larger and larger k until you hit your desired target. With your current sum method, you would have to start guessing at starting values of k and perform a sort of "binary search" for an acceptably close solution.

answered Apr 28, 2014 at 17:48

jgitter

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Comments

Domin · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-28 18:17:13Z

I don't think that this problem should be solved using recursion, but... if you need to implement it on that way, this is a possible solution:

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Recursion {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        double number;
        Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);

        System.out.println("Enter a value=  ");
        number = input.nextInt();

        double result = 0;
        double expectedValue = number;

        int k = 0;
        while (result < expectedValue) {
            k++;
            result = sum(k);
        }

        System.out.println(k
                + " is the  term that should be added in order to reach "
                + number + " (" + sum(k) + ")");

    }

    public static double sum(double k) {
        if (k == 1)
            return 1 / 3;
        else
            return ((k / (2 * k + 1)) + sum(k - 1));
    }
}

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