MATLAB: Recursive function to reverse a vector

homeworkrecursive

The question is to write a function to reverse a vector so v=[1 2 3] becomes v= [3 2 1]
It must be recursive
So my idea how to write this function is start off with d=1 the last digit of w, the output, is equal to the first digit of v the input. so thats what I wrote. As the function develops d eventually equals the length of the original input symoblising the function has reached an end and it will return w. I just don't know how to keep d growing everytime, as currently with every time I recall the function d will rewrite itself to be 1. I think it has something to do with the base case but I don't know. I'm not looking for the answer on a plate but more like a discussion of someone talking me through it
function [w]=reversal(v)
d=1
e=length(v)
w(end-d+1)=v(d)
if d==e
w=w
else
[w]=reversal(v)
end
end

Best Answer

Hmm. Suppose you strip off the last digit of the vector on each pass? Can you do that? You already know how to find the last element of a vector. That is just v(end). Your logic would look something like the logic in your digit_sum problem.
function vrev = reversal(v)
if length(v) <= 1
vrev = v;
else
% here, you need to break v into two pieces.
% one of those peieces will be the final element of v.
% The other will be everything else.
% then you can build up the vector, appending
% the last element to the BEGINNING of the result.
% take a shot at it, and I will look back in...
end
end