Question

What is the difference between a recursive and an explicit representation of a sequence?

Answer 1

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080819151736AALkldb

Answer 2

Recursive: You have to know the first step at least. To get the next element, you have to know the previous element. So for example to get F(2), you need to know F(1)

Explicit: You can calculate whatever instance you want without needing to know the previous one. So using the same example, if you have a explicit solution, you can find F(2) without knowing F(1)