I saw this in an algorithm textbook. I am confused about the middle recursive function. If you can explain it with an example, such as 4/2, that would be great!
function divide(x, y)
Input: Two n-bit integers x and y, where y ≥ 1
Output: The quotient and remainder of x divided by y
if x = 0: return (q, r) = (0, 0)
(q, r) = divide(floor(x/2), y)
q = 2 · q, r = 2 · r
if x is odd: r = r + 1
if r ≥ y: r = r − y, q = q + 1
return (q, r)
You're seeing how many times it's divisible by 2. This is essentially performing bit shifts and operating on the binary digits. A more interesting case would be 13/3 (13 is 1101 in binary).
divide(13, 3) // initial binary value - 1101
divide(6, 3) // shift right - 110
divide(3, 3) // shift right - 11
divide(1, 3) // shift right - 1 (this is the most significant bit)
divide(0, 3) // shift right - 0 (no more significant bits)
return(0, 0) // roll it back up
return(0, 1) // since x is odd (1)
return(1, 0) // r = r * 2 = 2; x is odd (3) so r = 3 and the r > y condition is true
return(2, 0) // q = 2 * 1; r = 2 * 1 - so r >= y and q = 2 + 1
return(4, 1) // q = 2 * 2; x is odd to r = 0 + 1
