CS 15-212: Fundamental Structures of Computer Science II

We discuss tail recursion, a form of recursion that is somewhat like the use of loops in imperative programming. This form of recursion is often especially efficient and easy to analyze.

We also introduce the list data structure in ML, and discuss the method of structural induction on recursively defined types. This technique parallels standard induction on predicates, but has a unique character of its own, and arises often in programming.

Key Concepts

• Tail recursion and iteration
• Lists as recursive types
• Induction on lists and other data structures

Sample Code

Handouts

• Some notes on structural induction (also in PDF format)

On-line Notes by Robert Harper

• Recursive Functions
• Lists
• Structural Induction