I would have started on a piece of paper, since you only have 3 variables, LINES, X, Y
I'm going to use a notation a <- b means that a becomes the value of b
LINES <- 5 as a start point
X <- 1 (out of 5)
Y <- 1 (out of X which equals 1)
Print "*"
Line 1, one "*" printed
X <- 2 (out of 5)
Y <- 1 (out of X which equals 2)
Print "*"
Y <- 2 (out of X which equals 2)
Print "*"
Line 2, two "*" printed
X <- 3 (out of 5)
Y <- 1 (out of X which equals 3)
Print "*"
Y <- 2 (out of X which equals 3)
Print "*"
Y <- 3 (out of X which equals 3)
Line 3, 3 "*" printed
So for every line 'X' in my case 5 (Lines), Im going to use 'Y' to print the number of stars on that line - which equals X stars - 1st line has 1 star, 2nd has 2 stars, 3rd line has 3 stars, 4th line has 4 stars, 5th line has 5 stars
btw, in between the two loops X Y ie
NEXT Y
NEXT X
I would have done something like
NEXT Y
PRINT (something to make a new line)
NEXT X
but its been a long time since Ive done any BASIC so you'll have to look that up
does that help ?
[EDIT]
Its also easier to see 'loops' if you indent them
FOR X = 1 to LINES
FOR Y = 1 to X
NEXT Y
NEXT X
[/EDIT]