NIST

recurrence relation

(definition)

Definition: The specification of a sequence of values in terms of earlier values in the sequence and base values.

Also known as recurrence equations.

See also Master theorem.

Note: Fibonacci numbers may be described by the recurrence relation F(n) = F(n-1) + F(n-2), where F(1)=1 and F(2)=1. Execution times are often computed by setting up, then solving, a unary recurrence relation, such as T(n) = 2T(n/4) + 2.

From Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, page 1-26, Copyright © 1999 by CRC Press LLC. Appearing in the Dictionary of Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Copyright © 2000 CRC Press LLC.

Author: CRC-A


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Entry modified 17 December 2004.
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Cite this as:
Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 1999, "recurrence relation", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: https://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/recurrence.html