Raven's Progressive Matrices Test Raven's Progressive Matrices Symmetry and Mirror Patterns 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a Raven's matrix governed by left-right bilateral symmetry, the left cell contains a shape with a dot only on its left side. To complete the symmetry rule, the right cell must contain:
- A shape with a dot on its right side (Correct answer)
- A shape with a dot on its left side (identical)
- A shape with no dot
- A shape with a dot at the top
Correct answer: A shape with a dot on its right side
Bilateral symmetry mirrors the left cell across a vertical axis, placing the dot on the opposite (right) side of the reflected figure.
Question 2: A 3×3 Raven's matrix has horizontal symmetry between rows 1 and 3 (row 2 is the axis). If row 1, column 2 contains an upward-pointing arrow, what does row 3, column 2 contain?
- Upward-pointing arrow (identical)
- Left-pointing arrow
- Downward-pointing arrow (Correct answer)
- Right-pointing arrow
Correct answer: Downward-pointing arrow
Reflecting across a horizontal axis flips the vertical direction, turning an upward-pointing arrow into a downward-pointing arrow.
Question 3: In a Raven's matrix with left-right reflective symmetry, if the left cell contains the letter 'd,' the right cell should contain which character?
- d
- b (Correct answer)
- p
- q
Correct answer: b
The letter 'b' is the horizontal mirror image of 'd,' as reflecting across a vertical axis reverses the left-right orientation of the shape.
Question 4: When the symmetry axis in a 3×3 Raven's matrix runs diagonally from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner, which pair of cells are mirror images of each other?
- (row 1, col 1) and (row 3, col 3)
- (row 1, col 3) and (row 3, col 1)
- (row 1, col 2) and (row 2, col 1) (Correct answer)
- (row 2, col 3) and (row 3, col 3)
Correct answer: (row 1, col 2) and (row 2, col 1)
For a main diagonal axis of symmetry, cell (i, j) mirrors cell (j, i) by swapping indices, so (row 1, col 2) mirrors (row 2, col 1).
Question 5: In a Raven's matrix with point symmetry (180° rotational symmetry around the center cell), a right-facing arrow in the top-left cell corresponds to what figure in the bottom-right cell?
- Right-facing arrow
- Upward-facing arrow
- Left-facing arrow (Correct answer)
- Downward-facing arrow
Correct answer: Left-facing arrow
Point symmetry rotates every figure 180° around the center, reversing all directions — a right-facing arrow becomes a left-facing arrow.
Question 6: Which type of symmetry would be present if folding a Raven's matrix along its vertical center line caused the left half to perfectly overlap the right half?
- Rotational symmetry
- Translational symmetry
- Reflective (bilateral) symmetry (Correct answer)
- Glide symmetry
Correct answer: Reflective (bilateral) symmetry
Folding along a vertical line and achieving perfect overlap is the defining test for vertical reflective (bilateral) symmetry.
Question 7: In a symmetric Raven's matrix, why is identifying the axis of symmetry the most strategically useful first step when the missing piece is unknown?
- It allows you to count the total number of shapes more easily
- It lets you use known cells to predict the unknown missing cell through mirroring (Correct answer)
- It reveals which row contains the largest shapes
- It determines the color gradient across the matrix
Correct answer: It lets you use known cells to predict the unknown missing cell through mirroring
Once the axis is identified, the missing cell can be predicted as the mirror image of its known counterpart on the opposite side of the axis.
Raven's Progressive Matrices Test Raven's Progressive Matrices Symmetry and Mirror Patterns 1
In a Raven's matrix governed by left-right bilateral symmetry, the left cell contains a shape with a dot only on its left side.
To complete the symmetry rule, the right cell must contain: