Why doesn't the return statement terminate the function?

Question

def gcd_fast(a, b):
    if(b > a):
        a, b = b, a


    if(a % b == 0):
        return b
    else:
        rem = a % b
        print('C:' + str(rem))
        gcd_fast(b, rem)    
print(gcd_fast(10, 9))

It returns none and when runnig it with the debugger after the return statement it jumps back to gcd_fast(a, b) in the if clause. I'm not good with python at all so sorry if it's something silly.

Does this answer your question? (ffs auto comment, i *know* it answers the question, why would i suggest it otherwise) [Why does my recursive python function return None?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17778372/why-does-my-recursive-python-function-return-none) — Paritosh Singh, Feb 05 '20 at 22:16

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 05 '20 at 22:20

0

def gcd_fast(a, b):
    if(b > a):
        a, b = b, a


    if(a % b == 0):
        return b
    else:
        rem = a % b
        print('C:' + str(rem))
        return gcd_fast(b, rem)

answered Feb 05 '20 at 22:20

Razmik Melikbekyan

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Why doesn't the return statement terminate the function?

1 Answers1