Non Verbal Reasoning · Series, Matrices & Rules
Picture Series and Sequences — Questions & Answers
Picture series questions give five figures that change step by step and ask which answer figure continues the same series. Track one part of the figure at a time - how it turns, moves or grows - rather than the whole picture at once.
- 5 solved questions
- Step-by-step AI walkthroughs
- How-to-approach tips
How to approach
Compare each figure to the one before it rather than to the first figure - the step itself is the rule.
A rotation step often keeps turning the same way and by the same angle each time.
If the series seems to repeat, check whether the pattern cycles back to the first figure after four or five steps.
5 solved Picture Series and Sequences questions
The six boxes below form a series that changes by a rule from left to right. One box is blank (?). Which figure belongs in the third box?
Solution — answer A
Rule: the arrow turns 45° anticlockwise each step; the hook turns 45° clockwise each step. Applying it to the third box gives option A.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Find the rule
This question asks us to find the missing figure in a series. We need to identify the rule that changes the figures from left to right. Look closely at how the components of the figures move or change.
Step 2: Identify component movements
The figures contain at least two distinct components: an arrow and a hook. We need to track how each of these components rotates or changes position from one box to the next in the series.
Step 3: Determine rotation rules
The arrow turns 45∘ anticlockwise with each step. The hook turns 45∘ clockwise with each step. These are the consistent rules governing the series.
Step 4: Apply rules to third box
To find the figure for the third box, apply these rotation rules to the figure in the second box. The arrow will rotate 45∘ anticlockwise from its position in the second box, and the hook will rotate 45∘ clockwise from its position.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (A) Figure A. Applying the rule (arrow 45∘ anticlockwise, hook 45∘ clockwise) to the second figure results in Figure A.
The six boxes below form a series that changes by a rule from left to right. One box is blank (?). Which figure belongs in the sixth box?
Solution — answer D
Rule: the pin moves 1 slot anticlockwise each step; the L-shape in the centre turns 45° clockwise each step. Applying it to the sixth box gives option D.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Find the rules
We need to find the rules governing the changes in the series of boxes. The solution identifies two elements that move: a pin and an L-shape in the centre.
Step 2: Pin's movement
The first rule describes the pin's movement. It moves 1 slot anticlockwise with each step in the series. This determines its position in the next figure.
Step 3: L-shape's rotation
The second rule describes the L-shape's rotation. It turns 45∘ clockwise with each step. This determines its orientation in the next figure.
Step 4: Apply the rules
To find the figure for the sixth box, apply both rules. The pin moves 1 slot anticlockwise from the fifth box's position. The L-shape rotates 45∘ clockwise from its orientation in the fifth box.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (D) Figure D. This figure correctly shows the pin and L-shape in their positions after applying both rules to the fifth box.
The six boxes below form a series that changes by a rule from left to right. One box is blank (?). Which figure belongs in the sixth box?
Solution — answer D
Rule: the pin turns 135° anticlockwise each step; the arrow turns 135° clockwise each step. Applying it to the sixth box gives option D.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Identify the Components
The problem describes a series of figures, each containing a 'pin' and an 'arrow'. We need to find the missing sixth figure by applying a consistent rule that changes from left to right across the series.
Step 2: Rule for the Pin
The verified solution establishes a rule for the 'pin'. It states that the pin consistently turns 135∘ anticlockwise with each step in the series. This rotation applies to every transition between figures.
Step 3: Rule for the Arrow
Similarly, the verified solution provides a rule for the 'arrow'. It states that the arrow consistently turns 135∘ clockwise with each step. This is the second part of the transformation rule.
Step 4: Apply Rules to Box 6
To find the figure for the sixth box, we apply both rules to the figure in the fifth box. The pin will rotate 135∘ anticlockwise, and the arrow will rotate 135∘ clockwise from their positions in the fifth figure.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (D) Figure D. This figure correctly shows the pin rotated 135∘ anticlockwise and the arrow rotated 135∘ clockwise from their positions in the fifth figure, following the established rules.
The six boxes below form a series that changes by a rule from left to right. One box is blank (?). Which figure belongs in the sixth box?
Solution — answer A
Rule: one dot is added each step, going anticlockwise round the box, and the pin in the centre turns 90° clockwise each step. Applying it to the sixth box gives option A.
5 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Find the rules
Observe how the figures change from left to right. There are two distinct rules: one for the dots and one for the central pin. We'll identify each.
Step 2: Dots pattern
The first rule concerns the dots. One dot is added with each step. This new dot appears in the next available position, moving in an anticlockwise direction around the box.
Step 3: Pin rotation
The second rule describes the central pin's movement. In each step, the pin rotates exactly 90∘ in a clockwise direction. This rotation is consistent throughout the series.
Step 4: Apply the rules
To find the sixth box, apply both rules to the fifth box. Add one dot anticlockwise and rotate the central pin 90∘ clockwise from its position in the fifth box.
Step 5: The answer
So the answer is (A) Figure A. Applying these rules to the fifth figure correctly generates Figure A for the sixth position in the series.
The six boxes below form a series that changes by a rule from left to right. One box is blank (?). Which figure belongs in the sixth box?
Solution — answer A
Rule: the pin moves 2 slots anticlockwise each step. Applying it to the sixth box gives option A.
4 steps · reveal one at a timeStep 1: Identify the rule
The series of boxes changes according to a specific rule. We need to observe how the pin moves from one box to the next to understand this pattern.
Step 2: State the rule
The established rule is that the pin moves 2 slots in an anticlockwise direction with each step from left to right in the series.
Step 3: Apply the rule
To find the figure for the sixth box, we apply this rule to the fifth box. Moving the pin 2 slots anticlockwise from its position in the fifth box will give us the correct figure.
Step 4: The answer
So the answer is (A) Figure A. Applying the rule of moving the pin 2 slots anticlockwise from the fifth box's position results in Figure A.
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