Question

Language: Python

Function name : findwaldo

Parameters : string
Returns: int

Description: Write a recursive function that takes in a string containing some combination of letters, numbers, and spaces, and return the starting index of the first instance of “waldo” contained in that string. If the string does not contain “waldo”, return -1. This function IS case sensitive, so “waldo” is not the same as “WALDO”. Code using string functions such as .index() and .find() that oversimplify the problem will not receive credit.

Please remember that the function should be recursive!

>>> astr = 'abcdwaldowalle123waldoWALDO'
>>> print(findwaldo(astr))
4

Answer 1

def findwaldo(s, index=0):
    if index < len(s):
        if s[index:].startswith('waldo'):
            return index
        else:
            return findwaldo(s, index + 1)
    return -1


astr = 'abcdwaldowalle123waldoWALDO'
print(findwaldo(astr))