loops - Print shape in Python

Question

In Python, I'd like to print a diamond shape of asterisks *:

• with $ at the top half of the diamond (upper pyramid) where there isn't a *, and
• with & at the bottom half of the diamond (lower pyramid) where there isn't a *.

So far, I only know how to make a pyramid that is right side up:

def pyramid(n):
   for i in range(n):
       row = '*'*(2*i+1)
       print(row.center(2*n))

For example, if the function called was print shape(7), then it would print [this image].

Any ideas?

Answer 1

def shape(n):
    for i in range(2*n+ 1):
        if (i < n):
            print "$" * (n - i) + "*" * 2 * i + "$" * (n - i)
        elif i == n:
            print "*" * 2 * n
        elif i > n:
            print "&" * (i - n) + "*" * 2 *  (2* n - i) + "&" * (i - n)