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RBRecursion vs Backtracking — Stop Confusing Them
Recursion is just a technique.
A function calling itself to solve smaller subproblems.
Use recursion when:
• You just need to count ways
• You need max/min
• You return true/false
• No need to explicitly undo choices
Backtracking is recursion with choices.
Use backtracking when:
• You have multiple options at each step
• You need to explore all paths
• You need to print all combinations/permutations
• You follow: choose → explore → unchoose
Remember this:
Every backtracking is recursion, but not every recursion is backtracking.
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![#Backtracking Reel by @howtoalgo (verified account) - 💡 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!
The Combination Sum problem shows how smart recursion saves time vs brute force.
From [2, 3, 6, 7] wit](https://image.pictame.com/img/557672534_17926964316133049_6557806824006164346_n.jpg?hash=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)
