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Why Memoization Beats Naive Recursion

Computing fib(n) by naive recursion re-solves the same subproblems again and again, so the number of calls grows exponentially. Memoization (dynamic programming) solves each distinct subproblem fib(0..n) exactly once, so the work is linear. Drag n and watch the naive call count tower over the memoized count. The vertical axis is a log scale, so a straight rising line is exponential growth and the gentle lower curve is linear.

naive recursion (exponential) memoized / DP (linear)
Naive recursive calls
1973
Memoized subproblems
16
Naive / memoized
123x

Both compute the same answer. The only difference is that memoization remembers each subproblem's result, so fib(k) is never recomputed. That is the whole idea of dynamic programming: overlapping subproblems solved once. This is a fixed demonstration concept (NOVA's interactive-visual modality); the per-misconception, per-course generated version is the frontier work that follows.