Question

What does the following code print?

for (int i = 1; i < 6; i++) {
for (int y = 1; y <= 4; y++) {
System.out.print("*");
}
System.out.println();
}

a) It prints a single line of 20 asterisks.
b) It prints five lines, each containing four asterisks.
c) It prints five lines, each containing five asterisks.
d) It results in a compilation error.

Answer 1

The Java code uses nested for loops to print a square pattern, consisting of five lines with four asterisks on each line, matching option b) It prints five lines, each containing four asterisks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The code in question is using nested for loops in Java to print a pattern of asterisks. The outer loop runs 5 times (from i = 1 to i < 6). Inside the outer loop, there's another loop that runs 4 times (from y = 1 to y <= 4). For each iteration of the inner loop, an asterisk (*) is printed, and after the inner loop completes its iteration for one cycle of the outer loop, the System.out.println() command is used to move to the next line. This results in the pattern described by option B).

Output:

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

Hence, the correct answer to what the code will print is:

b) It prints five lines, each containing four asterisks.