"""
 max.py

 return the max of a list using recursion

"""

def maximum(the_list):
    if len(the_list) == 1:
        return the_list[0]
    else:
        first = the_list[0]
        biggest_in_rest = maximum(the_list[1:])
        if first > biggest_in_rest:
            return first
        else:
            return biggest_in_rest

def main():
    sample = [1, 10, 5, 3]
    biggest = maximum(sample)
    print("biggest of {} is {}".format(sample, biggest))

main()