Abstract Pattern Recognition Flashcards

A 3x3 matrix contains different shapes. The first row contains a circle, a triangle, and a square. The second row contains a circle with one dot inside, a triangle with one dot inside, and a square with one dot inside. The third row contains a circle with two dots inside, a triangle with two dots inside, and a missing shape. Which of the following shapes completes the matrix?

Answer: A square with two dots inside

The pattern follows two rules. Horizontally, the shapes are a circle, a triangle, and a square. Vertically, the number of dots inside each shape increases by one in each subsequent row (zero dots in row 1, one dot in row 2, two dots in row 3). Therefore, the missing shape must be a square containing two dots.

Consider a sequence of five squares. The first square contains an arrow pointing up. In the second square, the arrow is pointing to the right. In the third, it points down. In the fourth, it points to the left. What is the orientation of the arrow in the fifth square?

Answer: Pointing up

The arrow rotates 90 degrees clockwise with each step in the sequence. From pointing left (fourth square), a 90-degree clockwise rotation will result in the arrow pointing up again, completing the cycle.

Which of the following figures is the odd one out? A) A pentagon with a square inside. B) A hexagon with a pentagon inside. C) A square with a triangle inside. D) An octagon with a circle inside.

Answer: An octagon with a circle inside

In choices A, B, and C, the inner shape has one less side than the outer shape (Pentagon=5, Square=4; Hexagon=6, Pentagon=5; Square=4, Triangle=3). In choice D, the inner shape is a circle, which does not follow the 'n-1' sides rule.

A sequence of figures starts with a large black circle. The second figure is a medium-sized white circle. The third figure is a small black circle. The fourth figure is a large white circle. The fifth is a medium-sized black circle. What is the next figure in the sequence?

Answer: A small white circle

There are two independent patterns. The size cycles through large, medium, small, large, medium, etc. The color alternates between black and white. The fifth figure is a medium black circle. Therefore, the next size will be small, and the next color will be white.

In a series of boxes, the first box contains a single horizontal line. The second box contains a horizontal line and a vertical line, forming a plus sign. The third box contains the plus sign with a diagonal line from top-left to bottom-right. The fourth box contains the previous figure with a diagonal line from top-right to bottom-left. Which pattern describes the rule of the series?

Answer: A new, unique straight line is added to the figure in each subsequent box.

The pattern is cumulative. Each box adds one new straight line to the contents of the previous box. The lines added are horizontal, then vertical, then one diagonal, then the other diagonal. The other options are incorrect as the rotation is not constant, the number of lines increases by one (not doubles), and there is no reflection.

You are presented with a 2x2 grid. The top-left square contains a shaded triangle. The top-right square contains a shaded square. The bottom-left square contains an unshaded triangle. Which of the following should be in the bottom-right square to complete the logical pattern?

Answer: An unshaded square

The rule across the top row is that the shape changes from a triangle to a square, but the shading remains constant (shaded). The rule down the first column is that the shape remains a triangle, but the shading changes from shaded to unshaded. Applying these rules, the shape in the bottom-right must be a square (like the shape to its left is a triangle), and it must be unshaded (like the figure above it is shaded).