Lcm with recursion

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Bonjour,
Hello everyone
I would like to know how to calculate the lcm(a,b) using the recursive method in Pascal without adding another parameter to the function header, knowing that I know the iterative method with two ways:
1st method:
function lcm(a,b: integer):integer;
var i :integer;
begin
i:=1;
if a*b = 0 then lcm :=0 else
begin
while a*i mod b <> 0 do
i:=i+1;
lcm:=a*i;
end;
end;
2nd method:
function lcm(a,b: integer):integer;
var max,min :integer;
begin
if a*b = 0 then lcm :=0 else
begin
if a>b then begin max :=a; min:=b ; end
else begin max :=b; min :=a; end;
while max mod min <> 0 do
max := max +(a+b-min);
lcm:=max;
end;
end;

Thank you for your help
Configuration: Windows XP Internet Explorer 6.0

9 answers

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  1. I present to you the complete solution of the entire program that calculates the LCM (Least Common Multiple) of two integers a and b using the recursive method while respecting the constraints for inputting a and b:

    program lcm_rec;
    uses wincrt;
    var
    a,b:word;

    procedure input(var a,b:word);
    begin
    repeat
    writeln('enter a: ');
    readln(a);
    writeln('enter b: ');
    readln(b);
    until ((a>b) and (a>0));
    end;

    function lcm(a,b:word): longint;

    var
    r:integer;

    begin
    if (b = 0) then
    lcm := 0
    else if (a mod b = 0) then
    lcm := a
    else
    begin
    r:=a mod b;
    lcm:=( a div r)* lcm(b,r);
    end;
    end;

    begin
    input(a,b);
    writeln('the lcm of ',a,' and ',b,' is ',lcm(a,b));
    end.
    1. ```html function ppcm(a,b:word): longint;

      var
      r:integer;

      begin
      if (b = 0) then
      ppcm := 0
      else if (a mod b = 0) then
      ppcm := a
      else
      ppcm:=( a div (a mod b))* ppcm(a,a mod b);
      end; ```
    2. If you run your program with integers a and b (for example a=23 and b=5) you found a false result.
      You need to replace "ppcm:=( a div r)* ppcm(b,r);" with "ppcm:=( a div r)* ppcm(a,r);"
    3. ```html

      Write this same algorithm without using any function or procedure.

      ```
    4. this result is wrong... it is necessary to replace ppcm:=(a div r)*ppcm(b,r); with ppcm:=ppcm(b,r)*(a div r); and it is not the same thing.
  2. Thank you all, I found the solution myself!!!

    function lcm(a,b:integer) : integer;
    var r : integer;
    begin

    if a mod b = 0 then lcm := a

    else

    begin
    r:=a mod b;
    lcm:=( a div r)* lcm(b,r);
    end;

    end;
    1. Hello
      with all my respect for your point of view, regarding this solution (it's a good solution); but it lacks the division by zero test :) that is to say if the second parameter is equal to zero then the solution is incorrect (run time error) :) . okay?
    2. @daliThank you for your interest and especially for your politeness, but it is enough to add another test at the beginning to solve this problem.
      function ppcm(a,b:integer) : integer;
      var r : integer;
      begin

      if b = 0 then ppcm := 0
      else if a mod b = 0 then ppcm := a

      else

      begin
      r:=a mod b;
      ppcm:=( a div r)* ppcm(b,r);
      end;

      end;
      my real problem was with parameters making the new call to the function.
      and here is how I found the solution.
      ppcm(a,b)* pgcd(a,b) = a*b {mathematical theorem}
      hence pgcd(a,b ) = (a*b) / ppcm(a,b)
      and since pgcd(a,b) = pgcd(b,r) {with r = a mod b} and pgcd (b,r) = (b*r)/ ppcm(b,r) {} according to the previous theorem}
      we can conclude that (a*b) / ppcm(a,b) = (b*r) / ppcm(b,r) hence ppcm(a,b) =( (a*b)/ (b*r))*ppcm(b,r)
      = (a div r )*ppcm(b,r)
      I hope I was clear enough
    3. Here is an optimal solution:

      Function ppcm (a, b, r : integer) : integer;
      begin
      if (r mod b)=0
      then ppcm := r
      else ppcm := ppcm (a, b, r+a) ;
      end;
      The call will be: Writeln ('PPCM = ', ppcm(a,b,a));
  3. Function ppcmRec1 (a,b,i :integer):integer;
    begin
    if a * b = 0 then
    ppcmR := 0
    else
    if a * i mod b = 0 then
    ppcmR := a * i
    else
    ppcmR := ppcmRec1(a,b,i+1);
    End;

    Call X :=ppcmRec1(a,b,1)
    1. Hi Ouhiby,
      for the recursive function ppcmrec2, I think (and I've tested it actually) that it is incorrect.
      1. Oh yes, I couldn't correct it!!!
        What do you think?
    2. I found several solutions
      but which one is the most accurate
      please
      very urgent!!!!!!!!!!!
      1. ```pascal function ppcm(a,b:word): longint;

        var
        r:integer;

        begin
        if (b = 0) then
        ppcm := 0
        else if (a mod b = 0) then
        ppcm := a
        else
        ppcm:=( a div (a mod b))* ppcm(a,a mod b);
        end;

        { it is the most just } ```
    3. Astonishing the number of algorithms proposed that assume a >= b ;)

      Test them with lcm(1, 53), or even lcm(0, 22) ;))
      1. ```pascal Function lcm (a,b:integer):integer;
        begin
        if a=b then lcm:=a
        else if a>b
        then lcm:=(lcm(a-b,b)*a) div (a-b)
        else lcm:=(lcm(a,b-a)*b) div (b-a);
        end; ```
        1. Sorry, I made some call errors :)
          Here is the complete solution InShaAllah

          Program testppcm ;
          uses wincrt;

          function ppcm1(a,b: integer):integer;
          var i :integer;
          begin
          i:=1;
          if a*b = 0 then
          ppcm1 :=0
          else
          begin
          while a*i mod b <> 0 do
          i:=i+1;
          ppcm1:=a*i;
          end;
          end;

          Function ppcmRec1 (a,b,i :integer):integer;
          begin
          if a * b = 0 then
          ppcmRec1 := 0
          else
          if a * i mod b = 0 then
          ppcmRec1 := a * i
          else
          ppcmRec1 := ppcmRec1(a,b,i+1);
          End;

          function ppcm2(a,b: integer):integer;
          var max,min :integer;
          begin
          if a*b = 0 then
          ppcm2 :=0
          else
          begin
          if a>b then
          begin
          max :=a;
          min:=b ;
          end
          else
          begin
          max :=b;
          min :=a;
          end;
          while max mod min <> 0 do
          max := max +(a+b-min);
          ppcm2:=max;
          end;
          end;

          function ppcmRec2(a,b: integer):integer;
          Var
          max,min : integer;
          Begin

          if a*b = 0 then
          ppcmRec2 :=0
          else
          begin
          if a>b then
          begin
          max :=a;
          min:=b ;
          end
          else
          begin
          max :=b;
          min :=a;
          end;
          if max mod min = 0 then
          ppcmRec2:=max
          else
          ppcmRec2 := ppcmRec2(max +(a+b-min),b);

          end;

          End;

          Begin
          {example of call}
          Writeln(ppcm1(15,3));
          Writeln(ppcmRec1(3,15,1));
          Writeln(ppcm2(4,12));
          Writeln(ppcmRec2(23,42));

          {
          Result :
          15
          15
          12
          84
          }
          End.