Figure series

Figure Series – Quick & Easy Study Notes

(For the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Forest Guard – Reasoning Ability section)

1. What is a Figure Series?

A figure series is a small set of pictures that follow a hidden rule.
Just like a sentence that repeats a pattern of words, the pictures repeat a pattern of shapes, colours, sizes, or positions.
Your job is to spot that rule and pick the next picture from a list of options.

2. Everyday Analogy

Think of a bicycle chain.

• The chain has links (shapes).
• The links are the same size, but they are arranged so the chain turns.
• If you know how one link connects to the next, you can predict the whole chain.

In a figure series you are asked to predict the “next link” by looking at how the previous links are arranged.

3. Common Pattern Types

(You can mix more than one rule in the same series.)

4. Step‑by‑Step Strategy

1. Look at the whole row

   • Read left to right, top to bottom.
   • Notice if every picture looks different or if a few are identical.

2. Check the simplest things first

   • Count how many shapes are in each picture.
   • Note the shape type (triangle, circle, square).
   • Note the colour if present.
   • Note the size (small, medium, large).
   • Note orientation (horizontal, vertical, diagonal).

3. Find the rule that fits all pictures

   • Write a short sentence: “The shape changes from triangle to square.”
   • If you can’t find one rule, try a second rule (e.g., colour changes).

4. Predict the next picture

   • Apply the rule to the last picture in the series.
   • If you used two rules, apply both.

5. Choose the correct option

   • Only one option will match your prediction.
   • If two options look similar, double‑check the rule (maybe it’s about colour, not shape).

5. Quick Checklist (Before You Pick)

• All shapes in the series are the same size?
• Do the shapes rotate?
• Does the colour cycle?
• Does the number of shapes increase or decrease?
• Is there a mirror or symmetry pattern?

6. Tiny Example

Rule:

• Colour goes Red → Blue → Green (each time the colour shifts one step forward in a hidden cycle).
• Shape goes Circle → Square → Triangle (each time the shape changes to the next in a fixed order).

Prediction for 4:

• Colour would be the next one in the cycle (… maybe Yellow if the cycle continues).
• Shape would be the next after Triangle (maybe Circle again).

So the next picture would be a Yellow circle.
If the options include this, pick it.

7. Sample Problem (Full Solution)

Series:

Options:
A) Small red triangle
B) Medium blue triangle
C) Large green triangle
D) Small red square

Step‑by‑step

1. Count shapes – Always 1 shape per picture.
2. Size changes – 1st: Small → 2nd: Medium → 3rd: Large → 4th: Large (stays Large) → 5th: Medium (back to Medium).
   • Rule: Size goes Small → Medium → Large → (stays) → Medium → … (back to Small).
3. Colour changes – 1st: Red → 2nd: Blue → 3rd: Green → 4th: Green (stays) → 5th: Blue.
   • Rule: Colour goes Red → Blue → Green → (stays) → Blue → … (back to Red).
4. Shape changes – 1st–3rd: Square → 4th–5th: Triangle.
   • Rule: Square → Square → Square → Triangle → Triangle → … (back to Square).

Apply to 5th picture → 6th picture

• Size: After Medium comes Small.
• Colour: After Blue comes Red.
• Shape: