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Exercise solution:
Powerset

 
(define (powerset set-list)
  (if (null? set-list)
      '(())
      (let* ((powerset-of-smaller-set (powerset (cdr set-list)))
             (delta (map (lambda (e) (cons (car set-list) e)) powerset-of-smaller-set)))
        (append powerset-of-smaller-set delta))))

This function illustrates the real power of recursion. Assuming that we can calculate the powerset of S minus its first element, the powerset of S is obtained by adding a systematic combination of the first element with each and every set in the smaller powerset.

The solution is inspired directly from Christian Wagenknecht's book 'Programmierparadigmen', from Springer Verlag.

Exercise solution: Powerset

Exercise solution:
Powerset