import java.util.ArrayList; ...//class definition, etc. public static void genPyrN(int rows){ if(rows < 0) return; //save the last row here ArrayList last = new ArrayList(); last.add(1); System.out.println(last); for(int i= 1;i <= rows;++i){ //work on the next row ArrayList thisRow= new ArrayList(); thisRow.add(last.get(0)); //beginning for(int j= 1;j < i;++j){//loop the number of elements in this row //sum from the last row thisRow.add(last.get(j - 1) + last.get(j)); } thisRow.add(last.get(0)); //end last= thisRow;//save this row System.out.println(thisRow); } }