Plotting Square Consisting of '*'

I am trying to create a square consisting of '*' with for loop. I did this

a = input('enter a number:')
for ii = 1:a
    for jj = 1:a
        fprintf('*')
    end
    fprintf('\n')
end
%output=
%*****
%*****
%*****
%*****
%*****

But space needed between '*' side by side.(one character space) It needs to be seem like square. I couldn't do that. Also how can I do this like

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

that with for loops. My friend said you need to use equations. But I don't know much about that. I started recently. Also If you know where can I find examples like this I would appreciate.

Answer 1

[DGM]

Try this:

clc
a = input('enter a number:');
for ii = 1:a
	if any(ii==[1 a])
		for jj = 1:a
		    fprintf('* ')
		end
	else
		for jj = 1:a
			if any(jj==[1 a])
				fprintf('* ')
			else
				fprintf('  ')
			end
		end
	end
  
    fprintf('\n')
end

This yields:

enter a number:6
* * * * * * 
*         * 
*         * 
*         * 
*         * 
* * * * * * 

The console font should be monospaced, but the problem you're running into is because the character aspect ratio is not 1. Luckily, it's somewhere close to 2, so just adding a space works out about right. It doesn't look right in the browser because the font is different here.

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

You do not need equations.

You can work with a series of for loops:

First phase: use one for loop to print the top row. Hint: print '* ' or '* ' to give alternating * * *

Second phase: use two for loops. The outer for loop is counting how many rows you have done. It also displays the left * . Then the inner for loop prints spaces. Then after the inner for loop, print the final * and newline.

Third phase: same as the first phase, print the alternating * and space.

[sky2]

Yeah I got that thank you for answer.