🔷 Figure Series and Matrix Puzzles – Visual Reasoning

✅ What is Figure Series?

A figure series is a sequence of images that follow a specific pattern. You are asked to identify the next figure in the series or the missing one.

✅ What is a Matrix Puzzle?

A matrix puzzle is a grid (commonly 2×2 or 3×3) of images arranged in rows and columns, where one image is missing. You must identify the missing figure that completes the logic based on patterns across rows or columns.

🧠 Section 1: Figure Series

🔹 Types of Figure Series

1️⃣ Rotation-Based Series: Figures rotate at a fixed angle (e.g., 90°, 180°). Look for changes in direction, corners, or arrows.
2️⃣ Number of Elements Change: Shapes are added/removed each step—could be increasing, decreasing, or alternating.
3️⃣ Size or Shape Change: Elements get bigger, smaller, or change form across steps.
4️⃣ Shading or Filling Pattern: Filled/unfilled areas alternate or move position.
5️⃣ Movement Pattern: Elements move in a specific direction—left, right, up, down, or diagonal.

🎯 Solving Strategy

Step	Action
1️⃣	Observe differences between each image
2️⃣	Identify the pattern: rotation, movement, size, shading
3️⃣	Use elimination if confused
4️⃣	Predict the next logical figure

🧩 Example – Figure Series

Example: Triangle rotates 90° clockwise each time; one dot is added per step.

✅ Answer: A triangle rotated 270° with 3 dots

🧠 Section 2: Matrix Puzzles

🔹 What is a Matrix Puzzle?

A matrix puzzle consists of a 3×3 (or 2×2) grid where each row and column follows a specific pattern. One image is missing, and you must find the figure that completes the logic.

🔹 Common Patterns in Matrix

Pattern Type	Description
Rotation	Each row/column rotates an image in a consistent way
Repetition	Same shape appears in row/column (repeated or alternating)
Number Change	Objects increase or decrease progressively
Position Shift	Elements move in specific directions
XOR/Overlay Logic	Two figures combine to form the third
Mirror Image	Image is reflected across axis within a row or column

🧩 Matrix Puzzle Example (3×3 Grid)

Grid:
[●] [▲] [●+▲]
[▼] [■] [▼+■]
[?] [?] [?]

Logic: Third cell in each row is a combination (overlay) of the first two.

✅ Answer: Combine row-3 figures in the same way as the others.

🎯 Solving Strategy for Matrix Puzzles

Step	Action
1️⃣	Observe row-wise and column-wise patterns
2️⃣	Identify transformation logic (rotation, flip, overlay)
3️⃣	Eliminate figures that don't follow the pattern
4️⃣	Sketch or visualize the pattern if needed

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Tip
Ignoring shading/direction	Always check for minor detail changes
Guessing based on design only	Use logical pattern, not just visual similarity
Missing diagonal patterns	Check rows, columns, and diagonals equally

📝 Practice Questions

Q1: Figure Series

Series: Square with 1 dot → Square with 2 dots → Square with 3 dots → ?

✅ Answer: Square with 4 dots

Q2: Matrix Puzzle