LoopingLesson: Triangle problem

Summary:

How I FINALLY figured out how to do this on my own.

LoopingLesson: Triangle problem

Sorthious (guest) 31 Jan 2013 19:06

Took me a hell of a lot longer than 10mins, but I did come up with a solution on my own(im a little slow, LOL.) I just playing around with the script and observing what was working and what was not, and by addressing each problem 1x1 I figured out what I was doing wrong…anyways, here is what I came up with…slightly dif than what you did:

int spaceCounter = 0;
            for (int columns = 0; columns <= 11; columns++)
            {
                for (int space = 6; space >= spaceCounter;space--)
                {
                    Console.Write(" ");
                }

                for (int rows = 0; rows < columns + 1; rows++)
                {
                    if ((columns % 2) == 0)
                    {
                        columns++;
                        continue;
                    }

                    Console.Write( "*" );

                }
               Console.WriteLine();
               spaceCounter++;

I made use of the Mod operator you showed us. This really helped me out with learning this…ty for that excercise. It's much easier to learn topics like this if we are presented with an end goal. (^8

Re: LoopingLesson: Triangle problem

rbwhitaker 31 Jan 2013 20:43

Wait, I didn't say it should only take 10 minutes, did I?

This was a homework assignment I had in my first official CS class. I remember spending days trying to get it to work!

With respect to your comment about it being easier to learn topics if you're presented with a goal, I'm assuming you're talking about little exercises like this. I actually really want to go back through here and do a lot more with that in these tutorials. (Not just the C# ones either. Even the XNA ones.)

For what it's worth, I got the same feedback when I was writing my C# book. I have a whole ton of problems to try in it, for the people who go the book route.

Sorthious (guest) 31 Jan 2013 21:33

Yeah…I think it would be much easier to make these concepts more concrete in ones mind if there are more excercises for learners to try. Start off with super simple excercises then move on to more complex uses of a particular command/concept. Like you just did…moved from Triangle to Checkerboard. Then maybe advice users to try to come up with other shapes on their own. I've tried other lessons but they are so dry and convoluted, I would have to read over them sooooo many times to undertand what was going on.

I think its better to explain things to people like their 10, where possible. Break it down into the simplest terms. I play guitar and sometimes forget when I'm teaching to dumb it down and not assume knowledge on the part of the person TRYING to learn. You've done a really good job of it btw!

Sorthious (guest) 31 Jan 2013 21:36

yes…you said:

''If you try for 10 minutes, and you're still stuck, don't worry. Take a look at the hidden code here:"

rbwhitaker 31 Jan 2013 21:52

Hmm… you're right. My intention though, was to say, "Don't waste your entire life on it." Not, "Normal people can do this in less than 10 minutes." It would probably be worth going in and saying it took me much more than 10 minutes originally, as well. :D

Sorthious (guest) 31 Jan 2013 22:06

yeah…took me about 40mins…but I had some basic understanding of C# when I started…been helping script on Allure of The Unknown, an Ultima Online server. It's easy to see whats going on and editing some things, but there are sooooo many .cs scripts its hard to track down where things happen. I'm getting better though. If people on here want to see some game scripts in action, Ultima online is a great way to check it out…you can create your own Home Server and tweak it all you want.

Re: LoopingLesson: Triangle problem

rbwhitaker 31 Jan 2013 20:44

If you're up for a new challenge, try printing out a checkerboard pattern like this:

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

Re: LoopingLesson: Triangle problem

rbwhitaker 31 Jan 2013 20:45

Oh and nice work on the little homework assignment!

Sorthious (guest) 31 Jan 2013 21:23

Stumped me for a few mins…but took less time than 1st one lol.

for (int columns = 0; columns < 4; columns++)
            {

                if ((columns % 2) == 0)
                {
                    Console.Write("  ");
                }
                else
                {
                    Console.Write(" ");
                }

                for (int rows = 0; rows < 4; rows++)
                {

                    Console.Write("*");
                    Console.Write(" ");

                }

                Console.WriteLine();
            }

Re: LoopingLesson: Triangle problem

rbwhitaker 31 Jan 2013 21:57

OK, if you want something that will challenge you without a doubt, try to make code that will draw a circle, based on a radius, measured in characters. But also so that it's dynamic (you can put in different radius values and see different circles appear.) Something like if r == 5, this would be drawn:

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

To be fair, this is pretty tough. And I'm not sure that in the place where this tutorial appears, if you even really have enough knowledge to do it. It might require stuff from future tutorials.

Don't really try it.

But if you do, remember that characters on the console are roughly twice as tall as they are wide. And you'll probably use the Math.Sqrt() method. (That's the part that I'm not sure if you've seen or not yet.)

Last edited on 31 Jan 2013 22:01 by rbwhitaker Show more

Sorthious (guest) 31 Jan 2013 22:09

it does sound interesting, and yes, i've seen Math.Sqrt(); before. Just not very familiar with it….I am going to keep this post in mind for later…after I review those lessons I'll come back and give it a shot.