Using recursion to pass parameters with base cases

Question

I am trying to complete the printConvertedNumber method to use recursion to print the first parameter in the number base specified by the second parameter. Converting to base 2,4 and 8 all use the same algorithm. The % and / operators with the desired base as the right operand are used to convert the number to the desired base. I am trying not to declare any new variables or objects in the class.

here is what it should look like, sample

Here is what I have so far, note my attempt does not work

import java.util.Scanner;

class NumberBaseConversion
{
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);

    int number,
        base;

    do
    {
      System.out.print("Enter a positive base 10 number: ");
      number = input.nextInt();
    } while (number <= 0);
    do
    {
      System.out.print("Enter a base (2, 4, or 8): ");
      base = input.nextInt();
    } while (base != 2 && base != 4 && base != 8);
    printConvertedNumber(number, base);
    System.out.println();
  }

  private static void printConvertedNumber(int num, int base)
  {
    if (base <= 0) 
    { 
      return; 
    }
    System.out.println("num: " + num + ", base: " + base);
    printConvertedNumber(num/base,num%base);
  }
}

here is what i get when i run it

what i get

Answer 1

The problem is with your printConvertedNumber method. You're not checking once num drops below 0. Also, the recursive call to the method is a little off. Try this:

private static void printConvertedNumber(int num, int base) {
    if (num <= 0) {
        return;
    }
    printConvertedNumber(num / base, base);
    System.out.print(num % base);
}

Here are a few sample runs:

run:
Enter a positive base 10 number: 10
Enter a base (2, 4, or 8): 2
1010

run:
Enter a positive base 10 number: 4
Enter a base (2, 4, or 8): 2
100

run:
Enter a positive base 10 number: 10
Enter a base (2, 4, or 8): 8
12

run:
Enter a positive base 10 number: 10
Enter a base (2, 4, or 8): 4
22

run:
Enter a positive base 10 number: 23
Enter a base (2, 4, or 8): 4
113

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Also, kudos on JGrasp. That was my first IDE.