Coding Newb:Python: Issues returning value from recursive function

Question

This code is giving me a headache.

time = epoch_years ## this value is 50.13452189.....

def timex(t):  ## isolaing and return decimal value of t
    print("t;",t)
    if t < 1:
        return t  
    else:
        timex(t-1)

result = timex(time)

I can't seem to get the value t returned after isolating the fractional value. There's probably an easier way to achieve what i want, though I'm hellbent on understanding why this code isn't working. --Result-- keeps coming back as --None--

rdas - that worked, though I'm not understanding why it worked. The If statement when -true- should just return the value t to the function call. -else- at that point shouldn't be invoked because t < 1..... — denver-coder, Feb 19 '20 at 15:43
@denver-coder "should just return the value t to the function call" That function call is usually the recursive call in the last line. Without a ``return``, the value is discarded. — MisterMiyagi, Feb 19 '20 at 16:02

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 19 '20 at 15:57

As @rdas said in his comment:

Change:

def timex(t):  ## isolaing and return decimal value of t
    print("t;",t)
    if t < 1:
        return t  
    else:
        timex(t-1)

to:

def timex(t):  ## isolaing and return decimal value of t
    print("t;",t)
    if t < 1:
        return t  
    else:
        return timex(t-1)

The return before timex(t-1) is the only change. I believe it works because the return will terminate the loop.

Coding Newb:Python: Issues returning value from recursive function

1 Answers1