Recursive Method Prints 4 Times

Question

So I am working on learning how to utilize recursion through Java. I have written a simple program that adds all the numbers between 1 and n and it looks to do it\'s job. Wh

Answer 1

It is because of the second print statement below the else. On execution the recursive function is called and it doesn't reach the print statement at the bottom. But after n=1 ie the if condition is executed then it return to the function recursive(2-1) and go to the down and return sum (also the print) and return the value of sum to the place where recursive(3-1) is called and so on.. . That is where it prints each sum.

A Code which prints only the final sum is give below.Print is included in the main to print final answer only I hope this will help.

public class add {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        int sum = recursiveCall(5);
        System.out.println(sum); // this will print 15
    }

    public static int recursiveCall(int num) {

        int sum = 0;

        if(num == 1) {

            sum = 1;
            //System.out.println(sum); this will print 1
            return sum;
        }
        else {

            sum = recursiveCall(num - 1) + num;
        }
        // System.out.println(sum); //this is the reason for each sum.
        return sum;

    }

}