Question

<table>
<tr
<td align="center">
<?PHP

$b = 1;
for ($a=1; $a<=1; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;
    echo "<br>";
}

$b = 2;
for ($a=1; $a<=2; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;

}

echo "<br>";
$b = 4;
for ($a=1; $a<=3; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;

 }
echo "<br>";
$b = 7;
for ($a=1; $a<=5; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;

{
echo "<br>";
$b = 12;
for ($a=1; $a<=5; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;

}
echo "<br>";
$b = 17;
for ($a=1; $a<=4; $a++)
 {
     echo $b++;

}
echo "<br>";
$b = 21;
for ($a=1; $a<=3; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;

}
echo "<br>";
$b = 24;
for ($a=1; $a<=2; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;

}
echo "<br>";
$b = 26;
for ($a=1; $a<=1; $a++)
{
    echo $b++;

 }

 ?>
 </td>
 </tr>
 </table>

I am trying to use for loops to make a shape that looks something along the lines of this:

I have managed to do it, but using way too many loops (9), I want to be a little less than this. Anyone have any help?

P.S its meant to be a diamond shape with the numbers 1-26

   ![sort of like this][1]     

Answer 1

How about:

$arr = array(1,2,4,7,12,17,21,24,26,27);
for($i=1; $i<count($arr); $i++) {
    for($j=$arr[$i-1]; $j<$arr[$i]; $j++) {
      echo $j;
    }
    echo "<br>";
}