Abstract Reasoning Flashcards

A 3×3 matrix has each column containing exactly one cross (×), one plus (+), and one circle (○). Column 1: ×, ○, +. Column 2: +, ×, ○. Column 3: ○, +, ?

Answer: ×

Column 3 already has ○ and +, so the missing symbol must be ×.

A figure splits into two identical halves along a vertical axis. If the left half shows a pattern of alternating black and white cells (starting black), what does the right half show?

Answer: Starting white, mirror of left

A vertical mirror reflection reverses the left-right arrangement, so the right half starts white and mirrors the left half.

In a series, shapes gain one vertex per step: step 1 = triangle, step 2 = square, step 3 = pentagon. What shape appears at step 7?

Answer: Nonagon

Step 1 = 3 sides; each step adds 1, so step 7 = 3 + 6 = 9 sides = nonagon.

A pattern of arrows points: Up, Right, Down, Left, Up, Right, Down, Left, … What direction does the 15th arrow point?

Answer: Down

The cycle repeats every 4: 15 mod 4 = 3, which corresponds to the 3rd position = Down.

Two overlapping shapes share a region. The left shape has 8 dots, the right shape has 6 dots, and the overlap region has 3 dots. How many dots are in total across both shapes combined (without double counting)?

Answer: 11

Total = 8 + 6 − 3 = 11 dots, using the inclusion-exclusion principle.

In a sequence of figures, each figure is the previous one rotated 90° and with one additional dot added. The first figure has 1 dot. How many dots does the 5th figure have?

Answer: 5

A dot is added at each step: figure 1=1, 2=2, 3=3, 4=4, 5=5 dots.

A 4×4 grid is divided into four 2×2 quadrants. Each quadrant contains a unique combination of shapes. The top-left has {■, ○} and the top-right has {△, ■}. If no shape repeats across a row of quadrants, what shapes are in the bottom-left?

Answer: {○, △}

The bottom row must use shapes not in the top-left (■, ○) or top-right (△, ■), so the remaining pair is {○, △}.