Problem: Christmas Hat
Write a program that reads from the console an integer n and draws a Christmas hat with width of 4 * n + 1 columns and height of 2 * n + 5 rows, as in the examples below.
Input Data
The input is read from the console – an integer n within the range [3 … 100].
Output Data
Print on the console a Christmas hat, exactly like in the examples.
Sample Input and Output
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| 4 | ......./|\..............\|/..............***.............*-*-*...........*--*--*.........*---*---*.......*----*----*.....*-----*-----*...*------*------*.*-------*-------*******************.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.****************** |
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| 7 | ............./|\..........................\|/..........................***.........................*-*-*.......................*--*--*.....................*---*---*...................*----*----*.................*-----*-----*...............*------*------*.............*-------*-------*...........*--------*--------*.........*---------*---------*.......*----------*----------*.....*-----------*-----------*...*------------*------------*.*-------------*-------------*******************************.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.****************************** |
Problem Analysis
In tasks requiring drawing on the console, most often the user inputs an integer that is related to the total size of the figure that we need to draw. As the task requirements mention how the total length and width of the figure are calculated, we can use them as starting points. In the examples it is clear that regardless of the input data, we always have first two rows that are almost identical.
......./|\..............\|/.......
We also notice that the last three rows are always present, as two of them are completely the same.
******************.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.******************
By these observations we can come up with the formula for the height of the variable part of the Christmas hat. We use the formula specified in the task to calculate the total height, by subtracting the size of the unchangeable part. We obtain (2 * n + 5) – 5 or 2 * n.
Guidelines for Drawing the Dynamic Part of the Figure
To draw the dynamic or the variable part of the figure, we will use a loop. The size of the loop will be from 0 to the width that we have by requirements, namely 4 * n + 1. Since we will use this formula in a few places in the code, it is a good practice to declare it in a separate variable. Before running the loop, we should declare variables for the number of individual symbols that participate in the dynamic part: dots and dashes. By analyzing examples, we can also prepare formulas for the starting values of these variables. Initially, the dashes are 0, but it is clear that we can calculate the number of dots by subtracting 3 from the total width (the number of symbols that are building the top of the Christmas hat) and then dividing by 2, as the number of dots on both sides of the hat is the same.
.......***.............*-*-*...........*--*--*.........*---*---*.......*----*----*.....*-----*-----*...*------*------*.*-------*-------*
What remains is to execute the body of the loop, as after each drawing we decrease the number of dots by 1 and increase the number of dashes by 1. Let's not forget to draw one star between each of them. The sequence of drawing in the body of the loop is the following:
- Symbol string of dots
- Star
- Symbol string of dashes
- Star
- Symbol string of dashes
- Star
- Symbol string of dots
In case we have worked properly, we will obtain figures identical to those in the examples.
Testing in the Judge System
Test your solution here: https://judge.softuni.org/Contests/Practice/Index/517#4.