recursion - Printing lists recursively in Python without mutating a list -

for homework question want print items list incrementing each item one. want using recursion (ideally without mutating list).

nb: understand recursion not standard solution in python or other language (i don't intend use in real world python implementations) part recursion section of cs course.

i think problem solved far more , in more pythonic way using simple for loop (i haven't learnt list comprehensions yet):

def iter_increment(p):     n in p:         print n + 1  print iter_increment([1,2,3,4]) 

to solve recursively i've created copy of list:

def rec_increment(p):     if len(p) == 0:         return     else:         r = list(p)         print r.pop(0) + 1         return rec_increment(r)  print rec_increment([1,2,3,4]) 

my question is, can code simplified or improved not mutating copy of list while still using recursion?

def rec_increment(p):     if len(p) == 0:         return ""                    #if return empty string, don't "none" printing @ end.     else:         #r = list(p)                 not necessary now.         print p[0]+1                 #r.pop(0) + 1   rather pop, index.         return rec_increment(p[1:])  # recurse on 2nd-nth part of list  print rec_increment([1,2,3,4])       # note don't need both "print" in function *and* print result of function - can pick want do.