In this particular case an iterative approach works just as well as a recursive approach. A method does not need to be recursive to use a value that a previous call to the same method returns.
Rick and people like him need to understand that RCC is an institution of faith not science.
I was sooo disappointed after the first viewing of Matrix, the story was so full of holes ... but then I realised I was taking it far too seriously and now I really like it for what it is, a neat what-if idea dressed up with cool fighting and gun-porn.