GATE CS 2026 Set 2 — Question 61
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Programming & Data Structures → C Programming → Functions & Recursion
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Question
Consider the following ANSI-C function.The maximum possible value that can be returned from this function is
____________. (answer in integer)Note: Ignore syntax errors (if any) in the function.
int func(int start, int end){
int length=end+1-start;
if((length<1)||(start<0)||(end<0)){ return(0); }
if(length%3==0){
return(func(start+1, end));
} else if(length%3==1){
return(1+func(start, end-1));
} else {
return(func(start+2, end));
}
}
____________. (answer in integer)Note: Ignore syntax errors (if any) in the function.
Correct answer
1 to 1
Solution
Let be the length of the range, calculated as . The function's return value depends on modulo 3:
1.If : The function calls
func(start+1, end), reducing length by 1 (). No value is added.2.If : The function returns
1 + func(start, end-1), reducing length by 1 (). 1 is added.3.If : The function calls
Let's trace the state transitions of :func(start+2, end), reducing length by 2 (). No value is added.- From , we add 1 and go to .
- From , we add 0 and go to (since ).
- From , we add 0 and go to (since ).
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