find min Algorithm
The find min recursion algorithm is a technique used in computer science to locate the smallest element in a given list or array, by leveraging the power of recursive function calls. The algorithm starts by comparing the first element of the array with the rest of the elements, replacing the current minimum value with any smaller value found during the comparison. The process is repeated for each element in the array until the smallest value is identified. This recursive approach breaks down the original problem of finding the minimum value in the entire array into smaller subproblems, making it easier to solve and understand.
The primary advantage of the find min recursion algorithm is its simplicity, as it follows a straightforward approach to locate the smallest element in an array. However, it may not be the most efficient solution for large datasets due to the overhead associated with recursive function calls. Each function call adds a new frame onto the call stack, which consumes memory and can potentially lead to a stack overflow error if the recursion goes too deep. Despite these drawbacks, the find min recursion algorithm remains a popular choice for teaching the concept of recursion and its applications in solving various programming problems.
def find_min(nums):
"""
Find Minimum Number in a List
:param nums: contains elements
:return: min number in list
>>> for nums in ([3, 2, 1], [-3, -2, -1], [3, -3, 0], [3.0, 3.1, 2.9]):
... find_min(nums) == min(nums)
True
True
True
True
"""
min_num = nums[0]
for num in nums:
if min_num > num:
min_num = num
return min_num
def main():
assert find_min([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, -3, 24, -56]) == -56
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
