Select a figure from the given Answer Figures which will continue the same…

2023

Select a figure from the given Answer Figures which will continue the same series as established by the five Problem Figures.

Problem Figures: Answer Figures:

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

  1. A.

    1

  2. B.

    2

  3. C.

    3

  4. D.

    4

  5. E.

    5

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Concept: In this figure-series type, two different base figures alternate every other step (a period-2 alternation, e.g. steps 1, 3, 5 share one base figure and steps 2, 4, 6 share another). Each time a base figure reappears, exactly one fixed pair of its four elements exchanges places, following the swap rule shown beside the series; applying the same swap twice returns the figure to its very first appearance.

Application to this series:

  1. Label the four elements along each figure's zig-zag frame from the bottom end to the top end as positions 1, 2, 3, 4.

  2. Problem Figure A (step 1) has the arrangement diamond - hook - Y-branch - triangle (positions 1-4); Problem Figure B (step 2) has hook - Y-branch - triangle - diamond. These are the two alternating base figures.

  3. The first swap-key diagram (below) fixes the rule for the odd-numbered appearances (steps 1, 3, 5...): positions 1 and 3 exchange places, while positions 2 and 4 stay fixed.

  1. The second swap-key diagram (below) fixes the rule for the even-numbered appearances (steps 2, 4, 6...): positions 2 and 4 exchange places, while positions 1 and 3 stay fixed.

  2. Applying the even-appearance rule once to Problem Figure B gives Problem Figure D (step 4): hook - diamond - triangle - Y-branch, which matches the given series.

  3. Step 6 is the next even-numbered appearance, so the same rule (positions 2 and 4 exchange) is applied once more to Figure D: hook - Y-branch - triangle - diamond.

Cross-check:

  • Applying the odd-appearance rule (positions 1 and 3 swap) twice to Figure A must return Figure A exactly; Problem Figure E (step 5) does reproduce Figure A's arrangement diamond - hook - Y-branch - triangle, confirming the rule was read correctly.

  • By the same logic, applying the even-appearance rule twice to Figure B must return Figure B's own arrangement - hook - Y-branch - triangle - diamond - which is exactly the arrangement the step-6 figure must show.

  • Among the answer figures, the arrangement hook - Y-branch - triangle - diamond (bottom to top) is the one printed under the number 2, so Answer Figure 2 continues the series.

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