Printing a pattern in C++

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The pattern is as follows:

1. _ _ _ *
2. _ _ * *
3. _ * * *
4. * * * *

[Ignore numbers: just used them to increase readiblity, and underscores are spaces here for representation.]

Well its quiet easy to do it with 2 for or while loops , but my friend challenged me to it with only 1 loop.And i have to create a general program for it , so that it runs for not only 4 but 5 or 6 too.

Well i tried and tried , and till now i have reached this far:

C++

int a=1;
int times=4; // no. of times a line , 4 here but user can enter anything
int totalelements=times*times;
int n=1;
int breakpoint=(times*n)-(n-1);

// breakpoints are the first occurences of * like 4th position in 1st line, 7th in 2nd line..


while(a<(totalelements+1))

{

if (breakpoint==a)
{cout<<"*"; 
n++;                            //to increment n for next value in breakpoint formula
breakpoint=(times*n)-(n-1); }   //get new breakpoint formula

else cout<<" ";

if(a%times==0) { cout<<endl;} // for printing nextline every 4th element here

}

The expected output is :

1. _ _ _ *
2. _ _ * _
3. _ * _ _
4. * _ _ _

So the thing i am doing wrong is : i am able to find out breakpoint pattern for it , but it prints stars only at those breakpoints , not after that.
How should i do that , to print those stars after that breakpoint

one thing i can relate is the no. of stars being printed is the value of n at that time, so how should i link it?

The program must use only 1 loop , any no. of variables , and no goto statement .

Posted 25-Sep-13 9:52am

Abhinav Gauniyal

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CPallini · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-25T10:39:00

Solution 1

I think you may simplify the matter just recognizing the bidimensional nature of the required pattern, that is you have rows an columns:

C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
    int n=4; // no. of times a line , 4 here but user can enter (almost :-) ) anything 
    for (int i=0; i<n*n; ++i)
    {

         int r = i/n; // row number
         int c = i%n; // column number

         cout << (c < n-1-r ? ' ':'*');
         if (c==n-1) cout << endl;
    }
}

Posted 25-Sep-13 10:39am

CPallini

Comments

Abhinav Gauniyal 25-Sep-13 16:46pm

How do you do that? Answer: Experience , as i assume , BTW thanks Sir :)

CPallini 25-Sep-13 17:01pm

Yes, experience, I suppose. You are welcome.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 25-Sep-13 17:03pm

5ed.
—SA

CPallini 25-Sep-13 17:10pm

Thank you, Sergey.

Maciej Los 25-Sep-13 18:22pm

Agree!