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Group by Shape

Group by Shape problems present a set of geometric figures and ask you to classify them based on their fundamental geometric shape. Common shape categories include circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, and stars. These foundational problems test your ability to recognize and categorize basic geometric forms.

10Worksheets
200+Practice Questions
BeginnerDifficulty
1-2 hoursHours to Master

What You'll Learn

Introduction & Overview Why This Matters How to Solve Pro Tips & Tricks
Shortcut Methods Common Mistakes Practice Worksheets Exam Importance

Introduction to Group by Shape

Group by Shape problems present a set of geometric figures and ask you to classify them based on their fundamental geometric shape. Common shape categories include circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, pentagons, hexagons, and stars. These foundational problems test your ability to recognize and categorize basic geometric forms.

Prerequisites

Basic geometric shape recognition (circle, square, triangle, etc.) Understanding of polygons Ability to distinguish curved vs straight-edged shapes Visual pattern recognition
Why This Matters: Group by Shape is the most fundamental grouping problem type. You can expect 2-3 questions in SSC CGL, 2-3 in Banking PO, and 2-3 in Railways RRB exams.

How to Solve Group by Shape Problems

1

Step 1: Identify all the shapes in the given set of figures

2

Step 2: Note the basic shape categories (circle, triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, etc.)

3

Step 3: Group figures that share the same shape type

4

Step 4: Count how many figures belong to each shape category

5

Step 5: Verify that the grouping is consistent for all figures

6

Step 6: Answer the specific question about how the figures are grouped

Pro Strategy: Always identify the most fundamental geometric property first. Look for differences in number of sides, presence of curves, or basic shape families.

Example Problem

Example: Figures show three circles and three triangles. How are they grouped? Solution: Step 1: Identify shapes: three circles (curved boundaries), three triangles (3 straight sides) Step 2: Group 1: Circles Step 3: Group 2: Triangles Step 4: Classification basis = Shape type (circles vs triangles) Answer: Grouped by shape - circles and triangles

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Count the number of sides for each polygon
  • Circle has 0 sides (classified as curved shape)
  • Triangles have 3 sides, quadrilaterals have 4 sides
  • Pentagons have 5 sides, hexagons have 6 sides
  • Polygons have straight edges; circles, ellipses have curved edges
  • All shapes with same number of sides belong to same group

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

Curved shapes vs Polygons is a common classification
3-sided (triangles) vs 4-sided (quadrilaterals) is another common pattern
If all figures are polygons, classify by number of sides
If some have curves and some have straight edges, that's the classification

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overlooking that circles are not polygons
Confusing rhombus with square (both quadrilaterals)
Missing that different types of triangles (equilateral, right, isosceles) are all triangles
Focusing on orientation instead of shape type

Exam Importance

Group by Shape is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
2-3 questions
BANKING PO
2-3 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
2-3 questions
INSURANCE
2-3 questions

Ready to Master Group by Shape?

Start with Worksheet 1 and work your way up to expert level! Each worksheet includes:

20 practice questions
Detailed solutions
Step-by-step explanations
Start Practicing Now