Creating pyramid using symbols in Python

Question

This is the assignment:

Write a python function that accepts a character and an integer and then uses that character to create a triangular structure like the example below. Make sure that the number of lines is in the range 1 to 10 and that only the first character in the user entered symbol is used if they enter more than one character.

Symbol? * Lines? 4

    *
   * *
  * * *
 * * * *

I've got all of it except the spacing right... here's what I figured out so far.

def Triangle():
    lines = -1
    while lines not in range(1,11):
        symbol=input("Symbol? ")
        lines=input("Lines? ")
    for i in range(lines + 1):
        spaces = lines - i
        print ((' ' * spaces) + (symbol * i))

This prints out:

     *
    **
   ***
  ****

Can't seem to get this right... thoughts? Also if anyone has ideas on how to ensure only the first character is used as the symbol as noted in the question, that'd be awesome.

+1 I've seen this assignment posted dozens of times here, it's the first time OP really tried something :) — Denys Séguret
– Denys Séguret, Commented Jan 14, 2014 at 19:18
Are you using Python 2 or 3? If 3, your input() call will return a string and your while loop will continue endlessly. If Python 2, you need to enter '*' for the symbol, so you may want to use raw_input() there instead. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Jan 14, 2014 at 19:21

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-14 19:18:53Z

1

You need add in spaces after each symbol:

print ((' ' * spaces) + ((symbol + ' ') * i))

answered Jan 14, 2014 at 19:18

Martijn Pieters

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4 Comments

Peter de Rivaz Over a year ago

This seems very wrong? His initial spacing is correct and the *i binds with ' ' at the moment.

ck29 Over a year ago

I was using Python 3, and thank you so much. I've been staring at this computer for 30 minutes. Huge help!

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@k29: Which means that you need to use lines = int(input("Lines? ")) for your code to work.

ck29 Over a year ago

yeah I already added that in based on your previous comment. Thanks! :)

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