Tips on Solving Problems Related To Pattern Matching

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5 TIPS on Cracking Aptitude Questions on Pattern
Matching
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Tip 1 Find the sequence of transformations
applied on the figures

• Some common transformations that are followed in
  this type of questions are
• Rotation A part or whole of the figure may be
  rotated by a certain angle.
• Select a suitable figure from the answer figures
  to replace (?)
• (A) (B) (C) (D)
  1 2 3
  4 5
• In the figures, the shaded leaf rotates by 225
  in the clockwise direction while the un-shaded
  leaf rotates by 225 in the anti-clockwise
  direction. Scanning through the options, we see
  that the 3rd figure satisfies these conditions.
  Thus, the answer is 3.
• Enclosure A specific part or whole of the
  figure may be enclosed in some shape.
• Sides/ Lines The number of sides/ lines in the
  figure may follow a certain progression.
• Select a suitable figure from the answer figures
  to replace (?)
• (A) (B) (C)
  (D) 1 2 3
  4 5

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Tip 1 Find the sequence of transformations
applied on the figures (continued)

• Vertical/ Lateral Inversion The figure may be
  inverted vertically, laterally, or both during
  successive transformations.
• Select a suitable figure from the answer figures
  to replace (?)

• (A) (B) (C)
  (D) 1 2 3
  4 5
• Figure B is the result of vertical inversion of
  A. We may, thus, conclude that a figure is
  vertically inverted in the subsequent figure.
  Thus, the missing figure will be an inverted form
  of C. Looking at the answer figures, we see that
  figure 1 follows this transformation. Thus, the
  answer is 1.
• Shifting A specific or whole of the figure
  may be shifted in any direction.
• Combination A figure may follow more than one
  of the above mentioned transformations.
• Select a suitable figure from the answer figures
  to replace (?)

(A) (B) (C)
(D) 1 2 3
4 5 Except for the dots, the
remaining part of the figure gets inverted and
shifts to the opposite side of the square
boundary. Thus, in the final figure, the sign lt
will be inverted and will shift to the left side
of the square boundary. This will be figure 3
from the answer figures. Thus, the answer will be
3.
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Tip 2 Break the figure into smaller parts to
identify the pattern for figure completion

• Following are some of the ways of splitting a
  figure into smaller parts
• Geometry The figure may be broken into
  circles, triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons,
  etc. that overlap, touch each other, enclose some
  shape(s), or are just parts of the figure.
• Question Identify the figure that completes the
  pattern.

Figure (A) (B)
(C) (D) Solution Each quarter of
the triangle consists of 2 right angled
triangles. Thus, option D is correct. Question
Identify the figure that completes the pattern.
Figure (A)
(B) (C) (D) Solution
The missing section should have 4 lines. One of
these lines should touch the bottom left of the
square and another should touch the top right.
Only (D) matches these requirements.
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Tip 3 Classify the figures on the basis of
sides, geometry or dimensions

• Some of the common classification bases are as
  follows
• No. of Sides Figures can be classified
  depending on the no. of sides they have.
• Type of geometry The figures may be classified
  as triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, etc.
• Dimension You may classify the figures as 2-D
  or 3-D figures.
• Conjoined, enclosed, or overlapping Some
  figures may be complex, consisting of conjoined
  shapes, smaller shapes enclosed within larger
  ones and/or partially or completely overlapping
  shapes, while others might be simple.
• Question Group the given figures into 3 classes
  using each figure only once.
• Solution
• The given figures can be classified on the basis
  of
• number of sides. Figures 1, 6 and 9 have 3 sides
• each 3,4 and 7 have 4 sides each 2, 5 and 8
  have 5 sides each.
• Answer 1, 6, 9 3, 4, 7 2, 5, 8.
• Question Group the given figures into 3 classes
  using each figure only once.
• Solution
• 1, 2 and 7 are simple figures.
• 3, 5 and 9 each have one shape enclosing another
  smaller shape.
• 4, 6 and 8 each have two shapes each that are
  touching each other.
• Thus, the given figures can be classified as

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Tip 4 Analyze the options one by one and
eliminate choices that do not follow the rule
Question Choose the set of figures which follows
the given rule. Rule Closed figures gradually
become open and open figures gradually become
closed. (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 Solution
The 1st choice can be eliminated since in the
2nd figure itself, the inner circle does not
open, but is replaced by a triangle. In the next
set, the inner square does not open in the 2nd
figure. All the figures in the 3rd option follow
the rule, with the rectangle opening up and the
straight line inside it closing into a rhombus.
Thus, the answer is (C). Question Choose the
set of figures which follows the given
rule. Rule  As the circle decreases in size, its
sectors increase in number. (A) 1 (B) 2 (C)
3 (D) 4 Solution In the 1st option, though the
size of the circle decreases, the no. of sectors
remains the same. In the 2nd option, the no. of
sectors in the 4th figure is less than that in
the 3rd. Again in the 3rd choice, the no. of
sectors in the 2nd figure is less than that in
the 3rd. Thus, none of these options follow the
rule. The correct answer is (D) and we may
confirm that in the 4th option, the size of the
circle decreases consistently while the no. of
sectors increases.
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Tip 5 Complexity of a figure is determined by
the no. of sides, shapes, sections, etc.

• When a figure is said to become simpler, it means
  that one or more of the following happens
• Lines If the no. of consistent lines of the
  figure continuously decreases, then it may be
  concluded that the figure is becoming simpler. In
  other words, if the no. of sectors of the figure
  keeps decreasing, then it is said to be becoming
  simpler.
• Shapes If a figure becomes simpler, the no. of
  shapes consisting some part or whole of the
  figure keeps on decreasing consistently.
• Curves The figures may also consist of certain
  curves. The extent or length of the figure keeps
  decreasing as the figure becomes simpler.
• Opening of figure At times, a part or whole of
  the figure opens up, thus making it simpler.
• Question Choose the set of figures which follows
  the given rule.
• Rule The series becomes simpler as it proceeds.
• (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
• Solution
• Analyzing the sets one by one, we see
• In the 1st set, the no. of sectors initially
  decreases, making
• the figure simpler, but then in the 5th figure,
  it again
• increases. Similarly, in the 2nd set, the
  complexity increases
• and decreases alternately.
• So none of them follow the rule. The figure in
  the
• 3rd choice, however, keeps becoming simpler as
  the no. of
• leaves and lines inside the circle keeps
  decreasing.
• The correct answer is (C).

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Tip 5 Complexity of a figure is determined by
the no. of sides, shapes, sections etc.
(Continued)
Question Choose the set of figures which
follows the given rule. Rule The series becomes
more complex as it proceeds. (A) 1 (B) 2 (C)
3 (D) 4 Solution Analyzing the sets one by
one, we see In the 1st set, the last figure is
simpler than its preceding one in that the curve
forming the vein of the leaf shortens. Considering
the 2nd set, the 4th figure is simpler than the
3rd one since the lower left circle opens up.
So, both these options are eliminated. Now, the
3rd set keeps becoming complex as the no. of
sectors, and then triangles (at the edges), keeps
increasing. Answer (C). Question Choose the
set of figures which follows the given
rule. Rule The series becomes more complex as it
proceeds. (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 Solution
Again, we analyze the options one by one.
The 1st set can be eliminated as it alternates
between becoming simpler and complex owing to the
no. of lines in the figure. The 2nd option keeps
becoming more complex as the no. of lines and
hence, sectors, keeps increasing. Thus, the
correct answer is (B).
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