#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
	int height,help;
	height = 6; //the height of the pyramid
	help = 0; //assistance variable in the for loops later
	for (int i = 1; i <= height; i++) //i represents the row of the pyramid
	{
		for (int j = 1; j <= (height *2)-1; j++)  //j represents the column of the pyramid
		{
			if (j == (height)) //in this case, height is also the index of
							//the middle of the pyramid
				cout << "*";
			else
			if (j>=(height - help) && j<=(height + help))
				/*
				Alright so after every row, number of stars in the columns increases by 2
				One on the left and one on the right. Helper variable starts at 0, and increases
				by 1 ever loop. In this case, height - help and height + help help us determine
				the index of the columns at which we start writing out *s, and index at which we stop at.
				After every loop, the start and end of the columns increase by 1, meaning 1 extra
				star at the start and the finish of the row.
				*/
				cout << "*";
			else
				cout << " "; //This means if none of the above if clauses are true,
			//the program will write out a blank space by default.
		}
		cout << endl; //This cout is inside the for loop with the i, but outside the
		//j for loop, which means every time the j loop ends, the cursor goes to the next line
		help++;
	}
		cout << endl;
	system("pause");
	return 0;
}