How to print this pattern in C++ without using `std::setw`, `std::left` and `std::right`

Question

I have to write a C++ program to print this pattern:

*                  *
* *              * *
* * *          * * *
* * * *      * * * *
* * * * *  * * * * *

This is the solution I have:

#include <iostream>
#include <iomanip>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    for(int i = 1; i <= 5; ++i) {
        string temp = "";
        for(int j = 1; j <= i; ++j) {
            if(j == i)
                temp += "*";
            else
                temp += "* ";
        }
        cout << left << setw(10)<< temp;
        cout << right << setw(10) << temp << endl;
    }   
    return 0;
}  

Is there a solution using just simple spaces? Don't just write the five strings in the cout statements.

Answer 1

You can do this easily, if you use two string variables, eg left and right , instead of your single temp variable:

for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
    string left, right;
    for(int j = 0; j < 5; j++)
    {
        if(j - i < 1)
        {
            // Add a star and a space to each side.
            left += "* ";
            right = " *" + right;
        }
        else
        {
            // Add four spaces into the middle between the stars.
            left += "    ";
        }
    }
    cout << left + right << endl;
}