Iteration and Recursion yielding different output

Question

Can some assist in debugging this error.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
/*

//Iterative code which works as desired
int question (int a , int b){
while ( a > 0) {
b = a+b ;
a--;
}
return b ;
}*/

//Recursive version
int question(int a, int b){
if (a>0){
b=a+b;
a--;
question(a, b);
}
return b ;
}

int main(){
cout<<question(6,12);
return 0;
}

//Thanks

Answer 1

In the iterative version a and b is the same for each iteration.
In the recursive version a and b is uniqu for each call to the function.
you have to use pointers as arguments to the function for your code to work.

Answer 2

//use this in the recursive version:
int question(int a, int b){
if (a>0){
b = a + question(a-1,b);
}
return 0;
}

Answer 3

thanks Amin!