PHP Script: Sum of First n Natural Numbers using Recursion

Learn how to write a PHP script to calculate the sum of the first n natural numbers using recursion. Follow along with a complete and runnable example to understand the recursive approach in PHP programming.
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PHP Script: Sum of First n Natural Numbers using Recursion

In this guide, we will explore how to write a PHP script to calculate the sum of the first n natural numbers using recursion. Recursion is a powerful technique in programming where a function calls itself. We'll use this concept to find the sum of natural numbers in a concise and elegant manner.

PHP Code Example

Let's dive into the PHP code for calculating the sum of the first n natural numbers using recursion:

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This PHP script defines a function calculateSum that takes an integer n as its parameter and returns the sum of the first n natural numbers. The function uses recursion to break down the problem into smaller subproblems until it reaches the base case (n equals 1), at which point it returns 1. The recursive calls accumulate the sum as they unwind.

How the Code Works

The calculateSum function is defined with a base case to return 1 when n is 1.

In the recursive case, the function returns the sum of n and the result of the function called with n-1.

The script sets the value of n to 5 (you can change this to any positive integer) and calls the calculateSum function to obtain the sum.

The result is then printed out, showing the sum of the first 5 natural numbers.

Running the Script

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Conclusion

In this guide, we've covered a simple yet effective PHP script to calculate the sum of the first n natural numbers using recursion. Understanding recursion is crucial in programming, and this example demonstrates how it can be applied to solve mathematical problems in an elegant way.

Feel free to modify the script and experiment with different values of n to see how the sum changes for various natural number ranges.