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Study Guide: Solving Pattern Matching (Non Verbal) - Reasoning Problems
Source: https://www.fatskills.com/reasoning-for-competitive-exams/chapter/solving-pattern-matching-non-verbal-reasoning-problems

Solving Pattern Matching (Non Verbal) - Reasoning Problems

By Fatskills Exam Guides Team — the exam nerds behind 28,500+ quizzes and 2.1M practice questions across 500+ global exams.

⏱️ ~4 min read

What is Pattern Matching?
In pattern matching problems, a figure is given which contain set of figure or matrix containing and that followed some pattern or sequence in which a quarter is left blank. Side by side another four pattern or sequence are given and choose one from that fits into the blank space.

Five tips for pattern matching:

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.
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.
Vertical/ Lateral Inversion: The figure may be inverted vertically, laterally, or both during successive transformations.
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.

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.

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.

Tip 4: Analyze the options one by one and eliminate choices that do not follow the rule

Rule: Closed figures gradually become open and open figures gradually become closed.

Rule: As the circle decreases in size, its sectors increase in number.

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.

Rule: The series becomes simpler as it proceeds.
Rule: The series becomes more complex as it proceeds.

Example 1
Choose the alternative which is closely resembles the Missing Pattern of the given figure.
Pattern Matching