Size Progression

Size Progression problems involve figures that change in size systematically (increasing, decreasing, or following a specific arithmetic progression). You must identify the size pattern to determine the next or missing figure. These problems test your ability to recognize quantitative changes in visual elements.

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

Introduction to Size Progression

Size Progression problems involve figures that change in size systematically (increasing, decreasing, or following a specific arithmetic progression). You must identify the size pattern to determine the next or missing figure. These problems test your ability to recognize quantitative changes in visual elements.

Prerequisites

Understanding of size comparison (larger/smaller) Arithmetic progression concept Observation of relative sizes Basic measurement perception
Why This Matters: Size Progression problems appear in 1-2 questions in SSC CGL and Banking PO exams. They test quantitative visual reasoning.

How to Solve Size Progression Problems

1

Step 1: Compare the sizes of the first two figures to determine the change

2

Step 2: Calculate the difference or ratio between consecutive figure sizes

3

Step 3: Check if the same difference/ratio applies to the next pair

4

Step 4: Determine if the pattern is arithmetic (constant addition) or geometric (constant multiplication)

5

Step 5: Apply the pattern to find the next figure size

6

Step 6: If a figure is missing, use interpolation (arithmetic mean for linear progression)

7

Step 7: Select the figure with the correct size

Pro Strategy: Measure or compare relative sizes carefully. If the figures are not drawn to scale, count the number of grid units or use relative comparison. For geometric progression, calculate the ratio (size2/size1).

Example Problem

Example: Circle radii: 10px, 20px, 30px, 40px, ___ Find the next radius. Solution: Step 1: 10 → 20: increase of +10 Step 2: 20 → 30: increase of +10 Step 3: 30 → 40: increase of +10 Step 4: Pattern: arithmetic progression with common difference +10 Step 5: Next radius = 40 + 10 = 50px Answer: Circle with radius 50px

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Arithmetic progression: constant difference (e.g., +5, +10, -3)
  • Geometric progression: constant ratio (e.g., ×2, ×1.5, ÷2)
  • For missing middle term in AP: missing = (first + last)/2
  • For missing middle term in GP: missing = √(first × last)
  • Check if size doubles each time (×2 pattern)
  • Check if size increases by fixed percentage

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

If sizes increase by constant d: next = last + d
If sizes increase by constant ratio r: next = last × r
For alternating sizes: pattern repeats every 2 steps

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Misjudging size differences when figures are not aligned
Assuming arithmetic when pattern is geometric (or vice versa)
Forgetting that size can decrease (negative difference)
Not checking if the pattern includes other transformations besides size

Exam Importance

Size Progression is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
1-2 questions
BANKING PO
1-2 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
1-2 questions
INSURANCE
1-2 questions

Ready to Master Size Progression?

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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