Raven's Progressive Matrices Continuous Pattern Progression Flashcards

In a 3x3 matrix, the figure in each cell is a polygon. Moving from left to right across each row, one side is added to the polygon. Moving from top to bottom down each column, the polygon rotates 45 degrees clockwise. If the top-left cell contains an upright triangle, what is the figure in the bottom-right cell?

Answer: A pentagon rotated 90 degrees clockwise.

Moving two cells to the right adds two sides (Triangle -> Square -> Pentagon). Moving two cells down results in two 45-degree clockwise rotations (45 + 45 = 90 degrees). Therefore, the figure in the bottom-right cell must be a pentagon rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the original upright position.

A continuous pattern progression in a Raven's matrix shows a central shape with smaller shapes in the corners. Horizontally, a small circle is added to each subsequent corner in a clockwise manner, starting from the top-left. Vertically, the central shape's color alternates between black and white. If the top-left cell has a white central square and no corner shapes, what does the middle cell (row 2, column 2) of a 3x3 matrix contain?

Answer: A black central square with circles in the top-left and top-right corners.

The top row would be: (1) White square, no circles; (2) White square, top-left circle; (3) White square, top-left & top-right circles. The first column would be: (1) White square, no circles; (2) Black square, no circles; (3) White square, no circles. To find the middle cell (2,2), we combine the rules. It must have a black central square (vertical rule for row 2). It must have one circle added, which is placed in the top-left corner (horizontal rule for column 2). Therefore, the cell at (2,2) will have a black central square with circles in both the top-left and top-right corners, following the progression from cell (2,1) which would have a black square with a top-left circle.

Which of the following principles is fundamental to solving a continuous pattern progression problem in a Raven's Progressive Matrices test?

Answer: Recognizing a consistent, logical transformation across rows and columns.

The core of solving Raven's Matrices is to identify the underlying logical rules or transformations that govern how the figures change from one cell to the next, both horizontally and vertically. These transformations are consistent and predictable, not random. The patterns are designed to be independent of cultural or linguistic knowledge.

Consider a 2x2 matrix where the top-left cell contains a single vertical line. The rule for the row is that each subsequent cell adds a horizontal line. The rule for the column is that the entire figure in the cell below is a mirror image of the one above it. Which figure should be in the bottom-right cell?

Answer: A mirrored plus sign.

The top-left cell has a vertical line. The top-right cell adds a horizontal line, creating a plus sign. The bottom-left cell is a mirror image of the top-left, which is still a single vertical line. The bottom-right cell must be a mirror image of the top-right cell. A mirror image of a plus sign is identical to a plus sign. Therefore, the answer is a mirrored plus sign (which looks the same as a regular plus sign).

In a scenario involving a 3x3 matrix, you observe that the number of dots inside a shape increases by one as you move down a column. Across the rows, the primary shape changes from a circle, to a square, to a triangle. Given the middle cell contains a square with two dots, what must the top-right cell contain?

Answer: A triangle with one dot.

The middle cell (row 2, column 2) is a square with two dots. The vertical rule states the number of dots increases by one for each step down. This means the cell above it (row 1, column 2) must have one dot. The horizontal rule dictates the shape in the third column (top-right) must be a triangle. Since the number of dots is consistent across a row, the top-right cell must contain a triangle with one dot.

A continuous pattern involves the subtraction of elements. In a 3x3 matrix, each cell contains a square divided into four quadrants, with each quadrant containing a small symbol (circle, star, cross, diamond). As you move from left to right, one symbol disappears in a set order (circle, then star, then cross). As you move from top to bottom, the entire figure rotates 90 degrees counter-clockwise. If the top-left cell has all four symbols, what does the bottom-middle cell contain?

Answer: A star, cross, and diamond, rotated 180 degrees.

First, let's determine the symbols. The top-middle cell (row 1, column 2) would have the circle removed, leaving the star, cross, and diamond. Now, let's apply the rotation rule. Moving from top to bottom, the figure rotates 90 degrees counter-clockwise at each step. The cell directly below the top-middle cell (row 2, column 2) would have the star, cross, and diamond rotated 90 degrees. The bottom-middle cell (row 3, column 2) would have the same symbols rotated another 90 degrees, for a total of 180 degrees from the original orientation.