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Odd One Out - Shape

Odd One Out by Shape problems present a set of figures where most share a common shape property, and one figure is different. You must identify which figure has a different geometric shape from the others. These problems test pattern recognition and classification skills.

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 Odd One Out - Shape

Odd One Out by Shape problems present a set of figures where most share a common shape property, and one figure is different. You must identify which figure has a different geometric shape from the others. These problems test pattern recognition and classification skills.

Prerequisites

Basic shape recognition Understanding of geometric categories Ability to identify differences Pattern comparison skills
Why This Matters: Odd One Out by Shape problems appear in 2-3 questions in SSC CGL and Banking PO exams. They test pattern recognition and outlier detection.

How to Solve Odd One Out - Shape Problems

1

Step 1: Identify the shape of each figure

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Step 2: Determine which shape appears most frequently

3

Step 3: The figure with a different shape is the odd one out

4

Step 4: Verify that all other figures share the same shape

5

Step 5: Answer which figure is the odd one out

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Step 6: Explain why it is different

Pro Strategy: Identify the common property shared by most figures. The figure that lacks that property is the odd one out. The property could be shape type, number of sides, presence of curves, or any geometric feature.

Example Problem

Example: Figures: circle, circle, circle, triangle. Which is the odd one out? Solution: Step 1: Shapes: three circles, one triangle Step 2: Most common shape = circle Step 3: The triangle is different Step 4: The triangle is the odd one out Answer: The triangle is the odd one out

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Count how many figures share each shape type
  • The shape that appears least frequently is often the odd one out
  • All other figures should share the same shape
  • Consider curved vs straight edges as a distinguishing feature
  • Consider number of sides as a distinguishing feature
  • The odd figure may be the only one with a different orientation? (usually shape type is primary)

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

If 3 circles and 1 triangle → triangle is odd
If 3 squares and 1 pentagon → pentagon is odd
If 3 triangles and 1 square → square is odd
The odd figure is the one with different shape type
Don't be distracted by size or color differences

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing a figure based on size or color instead of shape
Not checking that all other figures share the same shape
Confusing different types of quadrilaterals (square vs rectangle)
Overlooking that circles and ellipses are both curved shapes

Exam Importance

Odd One Out - 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 Odd One Out - 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
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