def max_in_list(lst):
    """Find max element recursively."""
    if len(lst) == 1:
        return lst[0]
    max_rest = max_in_list(lst[1:])
    return lst[0] if lst[0] > max_rest else max_rest

print(max_in_list([3, 9, 1, 7, 4]))

def find_max_recursive(data_list):
    """
    Recursively finds the maximum element in a list.

    Args:
        data_list: The list of numbers to search.

    Returns:
        The maximum element in the list.
    """
    if not data_list:
        raise ValueError("List cannot be empty")
    
    if len(data_list) == 1:
        return data_list[0]
    else:
        # Compare the first element with the maximum of the rest of the list
        max_of_rest = find_max_recursive(data_list[1:])
        return data_list[0] if data_list[0] > max_of_rest else max_of_rest

# Example Usage
my_list1 = [1, 5, 2, 8, 3]
max_element1 = find_max_recursive(my_list1)
print(f"The maximum element in {my_list1} is: {max_element1}")

my_list2 = [100, 20, 50, 10]
max_element2 = find_max_recursive(my_list2)
print(f"The maximum element in {my_list2} is: {max_element2}")

my_list3 = [7]
max_element3 = find_max_recursive(my_list3)
print(f"The maximum element in {my_list3} is: {max_element3}")

# Example with an empty list (will raise an error)
try:
    find_max_recursive([])
except ValueError as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")