In the question given, select a figure from amongst the four alternatives…

2023

In the question given, select a figure from amongst the four alternatives which, when placed in the blank space of figure (X), would complete the pattern.

Identify the figure that completes the pattern.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

  1. A.

    1

  2. B.

    2

  3. C.

    3

  4. D.

    4

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Concept: In a figure-completion (pattern-completion) question, the four quarters of the master square combine into one continuous, symmetric design — each quarter is built from the same set of lines/curves as the others, arranged so that the full figure has rotational symmetry about the centre (turning the design by 90° maps one quarter onto the next). The missing quarter must therefore carry the same lines, positioned so the whole design stays symmetric.

Application:

  1. The top-left and top-right quarters each contain a four-bladed pinwheel with a curved arc through its centre, plus a single straight line running from the quarter's outer corner through the pinwheel toward the centre of the square; the two quarters mirror each other across the vertical mid-line.

  2. The bottom-left quarter repeats the same pinwheel-plus-corner-line design, rotated so its straight line runs from the bottom-left corner of the square through the pinwheel toward the centre.

  3. For the design to stay symmetric, the blank bottom-right quarter must repeat this same pinwheel-plus-corner-line pattern, with its straight line running from the top-left corner of that quarter through the pinwheel down to the bottom-right corner of the square — this is exactly the figure shown against the label 1.

Cross-check:

  • The figure labelled 2 adds an extra stray line segment near the bottom of the square that the other three quarters do not contain, so its line count no longer matches the rest of the design.

  • The figure labelled 3 leaves part of the square undivided and swaps in a curved arc for the straight pinwheel lines used everywhere else, so it does not continue the same set of lines.

  • The figure labelled 4 adds extra crossing lines beyond the four-bladed pinwheel, making it busier than the pattern shared by the other three quarters.

  • Only the figure labelled 1 reproduces the pinwheel and the single corner-to-centre line with the same strokes as the other three quarters.

Reference — the fully completed design:

Hence, the figure labelled 1 completes the pattern.

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