Combining shapes in an abstract reasoning puzzle

When the third cell seems to combine the first two, compare the occupied positions. Count alone may miss the rule: two answers can contain the same number of marks in different places.

Use positions as a small set

Imagine each cell has four possible positions: top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right. Cell A contains the top-left and top-right marks. Cell B contains the top-right and bottom-left marks.

Different combination rules now produce different predictions:

• Keep every position present in either cell: top left, top right and bottom left.
• Keep only shared positions: top right.
• Keep positions present in exactly one cell: top left and bottom left.

These are three possible rules, not interchangeable descriptions of “combine.” Name the operation before choosing a picture.

Test the same operation on another row

If the first completed row fits more than one explanation, use the next completed row to distinguish them. A correct rule must work consistently for the relevant parts of the matrix. Do not switch from keeping shared positions in one row to keeping unique positions in another merely to match an option.

Also track fill and shape if the puzzle changes them. Two circles in the correct positions may still fail if the rule requires a circle and a square. Write a short prediction that includes every relevant attribute.

Check the options after the prediction

Eliminate options that violate one part of the rule, then verify the remaining candidate against the whole grid. If two options still fit equally well, recheck whether you missed a property or whether the question is ambiguous.

The worked example here is an original teaching exercise. PickAQuiz's practice score reports correctness on its own question set; it is not an IQ estimate. Reviewing why a combination rule works is more useful than remembering which letter was correct on a previous attempt.