Can't figure this abstract thinking question out!

Associate
Joined
15 Nov 2007
Posts
2,401
Location
Sheffield, UK
A mate recently took a test and this was one of the questions, i'd choose B for various reasons but am not confident with the reasons why. Was wondering what answers you chaps come up with :o

clipboard01kr.jpg
 
I want to go with B mostly because of the top row:

You can see that the pattern goes four sided shape-> two objects -> four sided shape -> two objects -> x -> four objects, and since B has the octagon on top which is an eight sided shape it seems to fit the pattern on top. Dunno wtf is going on at the bottom. :p

edit: moreover my brain kind of wants to do it mathematically in the top row where:

s is the number of sides the shape has, and n is the number of items in the square that follows it:

s=2n

And B is the only one that has an octogon in it.
 
Last edited:
I'd scribble "honestly, who gives a ****" in the missing box bit. It's like the "a train leaves x at y and a train leaves a at b, when do they pass" question. Never. It's British rail. They disappear into thin air and reappear 70 years later, empty.
 
I'd scribble "honestly, who gives a ****" in the missing box bit. It's like the "a train leaves x at y and a train leaves a at b, when do they pass" question. Never. It's British rail. They disappear into thin air and reappear 70 years later, empty.

British Rail? Are you from the past?
 
Would probably go for B myself, but not too happy with the reasons.

There seems to be an sequence where the unfilled outlined shaped go from top to bottom section, which would rule out A & E.
The next thing I thought of was lines of symmetry. Most of the boxes share a line of symmetry between the top and bottom section.
B is the only remaining answer that fulfils this criterion.

The problem is that the fourth box doesn't fit that pattern with the hearts so I could be way off with those thoughts.
 
I reckon its C

The square on the top row is going into a point...the bottom is going 5 sided 3 sided 5 sided?
 
A mate recently took a test and this was one of the questions, i'd choose B for various reasons but am not confident with the reasons why. Was wondering what answers you chaps come up with :o

B.

I'd rule out A and E based on the fact their simple geometric shape is on the bottom.

I'd rule out C as the shaded object wouldn't correspond with the tile top right of it, unlike the other shaded examples which are diagonal.

I think you could justify D, but for me the progressive simplification of the bottom row, moving from a fine toothed gear, to 5 simpler toothed gears, to 5 basic toothed objects on B makes it my choice.
 
Questions like these really are pointless. They're entirely subjective, and most choice could in some way be justified. All they test is how your brain infers patterns in a particular sequence of images. The patterns often aren't really there, but are being generated by your brain because it thinks they should be.
 
C would be my choice, I ruled out A and E because of the top pattern. B and D just don't feel like they fit.
 
Back
Top Bottom