%-------------------------------------%
% Homework 6: Problem 1               %
% Date: 10/22/2002                    %
%                                     %
% Gun Srijuntongsiri                  %
% gs61                                %
% ??????                              %
%-------------------------------------%

% Algorithm
% ---------
%   For each line, first output the correct number of spaces preceding the 
% first asterisk. Then output the asterisk. And then, if applicable, output
% the required number of spaces between the first and second asterisk, and
% then output the second asterisk. The first and last line are exception.
% For the first line, only one asterisk is required. For the last line,
% all are asterisks and no space.

% Variables
% ---------
%  height = Height of the triangle
%  i,j    = indices for loop

% Ask for the desired height
height = input('Please enter the height of the triangle: ');
fprintf('\n');

% For the top line, only do if height > 0
if height > 0
    % There are height-1 spaces before the first star
    for j=1:height-1, fprintf(' '); end
    fprintf('*\n');
end

% For the second line to the second to last line, one line at a time...
for i=2:height-1
    
    % Space preceding the left asterisk
    for j=1:height-i
        fprintf(' ');
    end
    fprintf('*');
    
    % Space between the two asterisks
    for j=1:2*i-3
        fprintf(' ');
    end
    fprintf('*\n');
end

% For the last line, all are asterisks
if height > 1
    for j=1:2*height-1
        fprintf('*');
    end
end

fprintf('\n\n');