Creating a histogram with C++ (Homework) - c++

Question

In my c++ class, we got assigned pairs. Normally I can come up with an effective algorithm quite easily, this time I cannot figure out how to do this to save my life.
What I am looking for is someone to explain an algorithm (or just give me tips on what would work) in order to get this done. I'm still at the planning stage and want to get this code done on my own in order to learn. I just need a little help to get there.
We have to create histograms based on a 4 or 5 integer input. It is supposed to look something like this:
Calling histo(5, 4, 6, 2) should produce output that appears like:
*
* *
* * *
* * *
* * * *
* * * *
-------
A B C D
The formatting to this is just killing me. What makes it worse is that we cannot use any type of arrays or "advanced" sorting systems using other libraries.
At first I thought I could arrange the values from highest to lowest order. But then I realized I did not know how to do this without using the sort function and I was not sure how to go on from there.
Kudos for anyone who could help me get started on this assignment. :)

Answer 1

Try something along the lines of this:
Determine the largest number in the histogram
Using a loop like this to construct the histogram:
for(int i = largest; i >= 1; i--)
Inside the body of the loop, do steps 3 to 5 inclusive
If i <= value_of_column_a then print a *, otherwise print a space
Repeat step 3 for each column (or write a loop...)
Print a newline character
Print the horizontal line using -
Print the column labels

Answer 2

Maybe i'm mistaken on your q, but if you know how many items are in each column, it should be pretty easy to print them like your example:
Step 1: Find the Max of the numbers, store in variable, assign to column.
Step 2: Print spaces until you get to column with the max. Print star. Print remaining stars / spaces. Add a \n character.
Step 3: Find next max. Print stars in columns where the max is >= the max, otherwise print a space. Add newline. at end.
Step 4: Repeat step 3 (until stop condition below)
when you've printed the # of stars equal to the largest max, you've printed all of them.
Step 5: add the -------- line, and a \n
Step 6: add row headers and a \n

Answer 3

If I understood the problem correctly I think the problem can be solved like this:
a= <array of the numbers entered>
T=<number of numbers entered> = length(a) //This variable is used to
//determine if we have finished
//and it will change its value
Alph={A,B,C,D,E,F,G,..., Z} //A constant array containing the alphabet
//We will use it to print the bottom row
for (i=1 to T) {print Alph[i]+" "}; //Prints the letters (plus space),
//one for each number entered
for (i=1 to T) {print "--"}; //Prints the two dashes per letter above
//the letters, one for each
while (T!=0) do {
for (i=1 to N) do {
if (a[i]>0) {print "*"; a[i]--;} else {print " "; T--;};
};
if (T!=0) {T=N};
}
What this does is, for each non-zero entered number, it will print a * and then decrease the number entered. When one of the numbers becomes zero it stops putting *s for its column. When all numbers have become zero (notice that this will occur when the value of T comes out of the for as zero. This is what the variable T is for) then it stops.
I think the problem wasn't really about histograms. Notice it also doesn't require sorting or even knowing the