incremental pattern with nested loops

[ampapp]

Hello. I am in a beginner C++ programming class. This is my first class I have ever done any programming in my whole life. I'll also mention that though it's a college freshman class, there are many parts to the programs that we have to write that I just do not understand. The current project that I am working on involves printing 4 different patterns to the screen(like the ones I have provided below)
1st
*
**
***
****
*****

2nd
*********
********
*******
******
*****
****
***
**
*

3rd: like 1 but w/ setw(9)
4th: like 2 but w/ setw(9)

I can get the 2nd one to work with the following program:
[CODE=cpp]
int(main)
{
int i, j, k;

for(i=1; i<=20; i++)

{

cout<<"\n";

for(j=i; j<=20; j++)
{
cout<< '*';
}
}
cout << endl;[/code]

but I am not sure how to go about getting the others to work, for what I have tried has given me infinite asterisks. Below is what I have tried.
[CODE=cpp]
for(k=i; k<=20; k--)
{
cout << " ";
cout << setw(9) << fixed << '*';
}[/code]

Any help, hints, or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,
Amber

[scruggsy]

for(k=i; k<=20; k--)

Hi, Amber.
Your problem is in the above line of code.
Each time through the loop, you're subtracting 1 from k.
Your loop won't terminate as long as k <= 20.
k will never be greater than 20 if you subtract from it each time through.
Fix either your loop termination condition or your loop update.
Hope this helps.