Recursion Tree | Solving Recurrence Relations

Python Fibonacci Series Using Loop and Recursion

Design & Analysis of Algorithms

Recursion Tree-

Like Master’s Theorem, Recursion Tree is another method for solving the recurrence relations.
A recursion tree is a tree where each node represents the cost of a certain recursive sub-problem.
We sum up the values in each node to get the cost of the entire algorithm.

Steps to Solve Recurrence Relations Using Recursion Tree Method-

Step-01:

Draw a recursion tree based on the given recurrence relation.

Step-02:

Determine-

Cost of each level

Total number of levels in the recursion tree
Number of nodes in the last level
Cost of the last level

Step-03:
Add cost of all the levels of the recursion tree and simplify the expression so obtained in terms of
asymptotic notation.

Following problems clearly illustrates how to apply these steps.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS BASED ON RECURSION TREE-

···

Problem-01:

Solve the following recurrence relation using recursion tree method-

T(n) = 2T(n/2) + n
 ···

Solution-

Step-01:

Draw a recursion tree based on the given recurrence relation.

The given recurrence relation shows-

A problem of size n will get divided into 2 sub-problems of size n/2.

Then, each sub-problem of size n/2 will get divided into 2 sub-problems of size n/4 and so on.
At the bottom most layer, the size of sub-problems will reduce to 1.
This is illustrated through following recursion tree-

···
The given recurrence relation shows-

The cost of dividing a problem of size n into its 2 sub-problems and then combining its solution is n.
The cost of dividing a problem of size n/2 into its 2 sub-problems and then combining its solution is
n/2 and so on.

This is illustrated through following recursion tree where each node represents the cost of the
corresponding sub-problem-
···
Step-02:

Determine cost of each level-

Cost of level-0 = n
Cost of level-1 = n/2 + n/2 = n
Cost of level-2 = n/4 + n/4 + n/4 + n/4 = n and so on.

Step-03:

Determine total number of levels in the recursion tree-

Size of sub-problem at level-0 = n/20

Size of sub-problem at level-1 = n/21

Size of sub-problem at level-2 = n/22

Continuing in similar manner, we have-

Size of sub-problem at level-i = n/2i

Suppose at level-x (last level), size of sub-problem becomes 1. Then-

n / 2x = 1

2x = n

Taking log on both sides, we get-

xlog2 = logn

x = log2n

∴ Total number of levels in the recursion tree = log2n + 1

Step-04:

Determine number of nodes in the last level-

Level-0 has 20 nodes i.e. 1 node

Level-1 has 21 nodes i.e. 2 nodes
 Level-2 has 22 nodes i.e. 4 nodes

Continuing in similar manner, we have-

···

Level-log2n has 2log2n nodes i.e. n nodes

Step-05:

Determine cost of last level-

 ···

Cost of last level = n x T(1) = θ(n)

Step-06:

Add costs of all the levels of the recursion tree and simplify the expression so obtained in terms of
asymptotic notation-
 ···

= n x log2n + θ (n)

= nlog2n + θ (n)

= θ (nlog2n)

Problem-02:

Solve the following recurrence relation using recursion tree method-

T(n) = T(n/5) + T(4n/5) + n

Solution-
Step-01:

Draw a recursion tree based on the given recurrence relation.

The given recurrence relation shows-

A problem of size n will get divided into 2 sub-problems- one of size n/5 and another of size 4n/5.

Then, sub-problem of size n/5 will get divided into 2 sub-problems- one of size n/52 and another of
size 4n/52.

On the other side, sub-problem of size 4n/5 will get divided into 2 sub-problems- one of size 4n/52
and another of size 42n/52 and so on.
At the bottom most layer, the size of sub-problems will reduce to 1.

This is illustrated through following recursion tree-

The given recurrence relation shows-

The cost of dividing a problem of size n into its 2 sub-problems and then combining its solution is n.
The cost of dividing a problem of size n/5 into its 2 sub-problems and then combining its solution is
n/5.
The cost of dividing a problem of size 4n/5 into its 2 sub-problems and then combining its solution
is 4n/5 and so on.
This is illustrated through following recursion tree where each node represents the cost of the
corresponding sub-problem-

···
Step-02:

···
Determine cost of each level-

Cost of level-0 = n
Cost of level-1 = n/5 + 4n/5 = n

Cost of level-2 = n/52 + 4n/52 + 4n/52 + 42n/52 = n

Step-03:

Determine total number of levels in the recursion tree. We will consider the rightmost sub tree as it goes
down to the deepest level-

···

Size of sub-problem at level-0 = (4/5)0n

Size of sub-problem at level-1 =(4/5)1n
Size of sub-problem at level-2 =(4/5)2n
Continuing in similar manner, we have-

Size of sub-problem at level-i = (4/5)in

Suppose at level-x (last level), size of sub-problem becomes 1. Then-

(4/5)xn = 1

(4/5)x = 1/n

Taking log on both sides, we get-

xlog(4/5) = log(1/n)

···

x = log5/4n

∴ Total number of levels in the recursion tree = log5/4n + 1

 ···

Step-04:

Determine number of nodes in the last level-

Level-0 has 20 nodes i.e. 1 node

Level-1 has 21 nodes i.e. 2 nodes

Level-2 has 22 nodes i.e. 4 nodes

Continuing in similar manner, we have-

Level-log5/4n has 2log5/4n nodes

Step-05:

Determine cost of last level-

Cost of last level = 2log5/4n x T(1) = θ(2log5/4n) = θ(nlog5/42)

···

Step-06:

Add costs of all the levels of the recursion tree and simplify the expression so obtained in terms of
asymptotic notation-
= nlog5/4n + θ(nlog5/42)

= θ(nlog5/4n)

Problem-03:

Solve the following recurrence relation using recursion tree method-

T(n) = 3T(n/4) + cn2

Solution-

Step-01:

Draw a recursion tree based on the given recurrence relation-

(Here, we have directly drawn a recursion tree representing the cost of sub problems)
Step-02:

Determine cost of each level-

Cost of level-0 = cn2

Cost of level-1 = c(n/4)2 + c(n/4)2 + c(n/4)2 = (3/16)cn2
Cost of level-2 = c(n/16)2 x 9 = (9/162)cn2

Step-03:

Determine total number of levels in the recursion tree-

Size of sub-problem at level-0 = n/40

Size of sub-problem at level-1 = n/41

Size of sub-problem at level-2 = n/42

Continuing in similar manner, we have-

Size of sub-problem at level-i = n/4i

Suppose at level-x (last level), size of sub-problem becomes 1. Then-

n/4x = 1

4x = n

Taking log on both sides, we get-

xlog4 = logn

x = log4n

∴ Total number of levels in the recursion tree = log4n + 1

Step-04:

Determine number of nodes in the last level-

Level-0 has 30 nodes i.e. 1 node

Level-1 has 31 nodes i.e. 3 nodes

 Level-2 has 32 nodes i.e. 9 nodes

Continuing in similar manner, we have-

Level-log4n has 3log4n nodes i.e. nlog43 nodes

Step-05:

Determine cost of last level-

Cost of last level = nlog43 x T(1) = θ(nlog43)

Step-06:

Add costs of all the levels of the recursion tree and simplify the expression so obtained in terms of
asymptotic notation-

= cn2 { 1 + (3/16) + (3/16)2 + ……… } + θ(nlog43)

Now, { 1 + (3/16) + (3/16)2 + ……… } forms an infinite Geometric progression.

On solving, we get-

= (16/13)cn2 { 1 – (3/16)log4n } + θ(nlog43)

= (16/13)cn2 – (16/13)cn2 (3/16)log4n + θ(nlog43)

= O(n2)
To gain better understanding about Recursion Tree,

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Summary

Article Name Recursion Tree | Solving Recurrence Relations

Description Like Master's theorem, recursion tree method is another

method for solving recurrence relations. A recursion tree
is a tree where each node represents the cost of a certain
recursive sub-problem. We will follow the following steps
for solving recurrence relations using recursion tree
method.

Author Akshay Singhal

Publisher Name Gate Vidyalay

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