Question

// Assume the following declarations: final int MIN = 1; final int MAX = 7; int i; int j; // and the following loop: for (i = MIN; i<=MAX; i++) { for (j = MIN; j<=MAX; j++) { if (i==j) if (i == (MIN+MAX)/2) System ("o"); else System ("*"); else if (i+j == MIN+MAX) System ("*"); else System (" "); } System.out.println(); }

Answer 1

The code is for generating a pattern using nested loops in Java that outputs a cross of '*' with an 'o' in the center. The pattern is delimited by the MIN and MAX constants, which results in a 7x7 matrix since MIN is 1 and MAX is 7.

Step-by-step explanation:

The provided code snippet is a nested loop that generates a pattern on the console. The outer loop uses variable i to iterate from MIN (1) to MAX (7), and likewise, the inner loop uses variable j to iterate over the same range. Three conditions manage the output:

• When i is equal to j, it checks if i is equal to the middle position of the range ((MIN+MAX)/2), if so, it prints an 'o', else an '*'.
• When the sum of I and j equals the sum of MIN and MAX, it prints '*'. This condition is for printing '*' on the diagonal from the top-right to the bottom-left of the pattern.
• If neither of the above conditions is satisfied, it prints a space.

After the inner loop completes for each iteration of the outer loop, System.out.println() is used to move to the next line, ultimately creating a pattern where a cross of '*' is formed with a special 'o' in the center of the pattern.