RecursiveMaxFinder.py

#RecursiveMaxFinder.py

#recursive function finds highest integer in list
def findMax(li):

    #if only 1 item in list, return it
    if len (li)==1: return li[0]

    #return the greater of (firstlistitem, maximumoftheotherlistitems)
    return max (li[0], findMax (li[1:]))

def main():
    a_list = [ 8, 3, 4, 5, 7, 1, 2, 6, 9 ]          # test values: try different values, e.g. remove 9
    print ("List: %s" % a_list)                     # print list
    print ("Highest number: %d" % findMax (a_list)) # print output of function findMax()

main()