📘 Paper Folding and Unfolding Patterns
🔍 What Are Paper Folding Questions?
You are shown how a sheet of paper is folded one or more times, and then holes are punched, or patterns are cut. You are asked to identify the resulting pattern when the paper is unfolded back to its original form.
📘 Types of Questions
-
1️⃣ Paper Folding with Punching
Paper is folded (1–3 times), and holes are punched through the folds.
✅ You have to predict the final unfolded view of the paper with all hole positions. -
2️⃣ Paper Folding with Cutting
Similar to punching, but shapes like triangles or lines are cut.
✅ You must find symmetry and position after unfolding. -
3️⃣ Paper Folding and Pattern Recognition
Folding shapes or designs (like ink blots) are shown.
✅ You predict how the folded pattern expands after unfolding.
🧠 Core Concepts You Must Know
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| 📐 Symmetry | Understand horizontal, vertical, and diagonal symmetry. |
| 🔁 Number of Folds | Each fold doubles the number of holes in that direction. |
| 📄 Folding Direction | Top to bottom? Left to right? Each changes the position. |
| ✂️ Type of Punch or Cut | The position and shape matter—circular, square, triangle, etc. |
🧩 Example 1 – Punching Question (Single Fold)
A square paper is folded in half vertically, and a hole is punched
in the top-right corner.
✅ Answer: There will be 2 holes — one in the
top-left and one in the top-right (because of vertical symmetry).
🧩 Example 2 – Two Folds (More Complex)
Step 1: Fold from left to right
Step 2: Fold from top to bottom
Then a small triangle is cut from the top-right corner.
✅ Answer: The triangle will appear in all 4
corners — because each fold doubles the number of shapes.
🧩 Example 3 – Pattern Folding
You are shown an ink dot pattern created by folding a paper in
half, adding a mark, and unfolding.
✅ Answer: Mirror the dot placement across the
fold line (horizontal or vertical depending on the question).
✅ How to Solve Step-by-Step
- • Visualize the paper and direction of each fold (e.g., fold in half from left → right = vertical fold)
- • Count the folds – More folds mean more repetitions
- • Look at punch/cut position (corner, edge, center?)
-
• Apply symmetry logic:
- - Vertical fold → Mirror horizontally
- - Horizontal fold → Mirror vertically
- • Unfold step-by-step, imagining how patterns multiply
✍️ Commonly Asked in Lok Sewa Exams
| Asked In | Nature of Questions |
|---|---|
| Kharidar | Simple fold + punch |
| Nayab Subba | Two-fold + cut/punch |
| Officer Level | Multiple folds + complex shapes |
| Technical Exams | Often combined with mirror logic |
🧠 Tips and Tricks
| Tip # | Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Practice single and double folds first |
| 2️⃣ | Sketch on rough paper if allowed in exam |
| 3️⃣ | Mark sides as A, B, C, D to track folds |
| 4️⃣ | Use elimination method with options |
| 5️⃣ | Practice using previous Lok Sewa questions |
📝 Practice Questions
Q1:
A square sheet is folded into half from bottom to top, and then
a small circle is punched in the center.
✅ Answer: 2 holes (one on top half, one on
bottom half — symmetrical)
Q2:
A paper is folded vertically and a triangle is cut in the
top-left corner.
✅ Answer: Two triangles, one on top-left and
one on top-right.