Java Program to Print Downward Right Triangle Number Pattern - 1

Last updated: October 17, 2026Oct 17, 2026

In this program we print a downward right triangle number pattern. The first row prints 1 to 5, and each row after it is one number shorter.

Like every pattern program, it is built from nested loops: the outer loop picks the row, and the inner loops print what goes on that row.

1. The Pattern

For 5 rows the program prints:

Pattern

2. How the Program Works

Here is what each printed line is made of when numberOfRows is 5:

Line	Leading spaces	Printed after the spaces
1	0	1 2 3 4 5
2	0	1 2 3 4
3	0	1 2 3
4	0	1 2
5	0	1

The outer loop counts row down from numberOfRows to 1, so the longest row comes first.
The inner loop prints the numbers from 1 to row, each followed by a space.
System.out.println() moves to the next line after each row.

3. Java Program

Pattern7.java

public class Pattern7 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int numberOfRows = 5;

        // outer loop for the rows, counting down
        for (int row = numberOfRows; row >= 1; row--) {
            // inner loop to print the numbers 1 to row
            for (int column = 1; column <= row; column++) {
                System.out.print(column + " ");
            }
            // move to the next line
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
}

Output

4. Print the Pattern for Any Number of Rows

To let the user choose the size of the pattern, read the number of rows with a Scanner. The loops stay the same.

Pattern7Input.java

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Pattern7Input {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
        System.out.print("Enter the number of rows: ");
        int numberOfRows = scanner.nextInt();
        scanner.close();

        // outer loop for the rows, counting down
        for (int row = numberOfRows; row >= 1; row--) {
            // inner loop to print the numbers 1 to row
            for (int column = 1; column <= row; column++) {
                System.out.print(column + " ");
            }
            // move to the next line
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
}

Output (with sample input)

Enter the number of rows: 6
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4
1 2 3
1 2
1

5. Summary

The outer loop picks the row; the inner loops print the spaces and the numbers for that row.
Work out how many spaces and which numbers each row needs, then write one inner loop for each.
Keep numberOfRows in a variable, so the same program can print the pattern in any size.

Related Programs

Was this tutorial helpful?

Help Us Improve