c++ - Direct And Indirect Recursion Issue -

so i'm having recursion bug.

output want...

input 4

* * * *

* * *

* *

*

* *

* * *

* * * *

output get..

input 4

* big blank space*

i cant seem wrap head around recursion.

#include<iostream> #include<fstream> #include<string> #include<windows.h> #include<ctime>  using namespace std;  int i; bool end = false; int changer = -1; int placeholder; bool recursionup(int num1) {     if(num1 == placeholder)     {         return true;     }     for(i = placeholder; == num1; i--)     {         cout << "*";     }     cout << "\n";     recursionup(num1 + 1); }  bool cont = false; int recursion(int num1) {     if(num1 == 0)     {         cont = recursionup(num1);     }     for(i = 1; <= num1; i++)     {         cout << "*";     }     recursion(num1 - 1);     if(cont)     {         return 0;     } }  int main() {     int number;     cout << "input star number...\n";     cout << "\t input: ";     cin >> number;     placeholder = number;     recursion(number);     return 0; } 

can point out mistake?

as recursion there 2 things you'll need define:

1. the end condition
2. a depth value (and other information that's needed)

in case end condition when depth == number - 1

you'll want print before , after each recursion.

void recursion(int depth){     if (depth <= 1) {         cout << '*' << endl << endl;     }else{         (int = 0; < depth; ++i)cout << "* ";         cout << endl << endl;         recursion(depth - 1);         (int = 0; < depth; ++i)cout <<"* ";         cout << endl << endl;     } }