Abstract Relationship Rule

Abstract Relationship Rule problems involve non-geometric relationships between figures. For example, the number of corners in the first figure may determine the number of shapes in the second figure. These problems test conceptual and numerical reasoning.

10Worksheets
200+Practice Questions
HardDifficulty
3-4 hoursHours to Master

Introduction to Abstract Relationship Rule

Abstract Relationship Rule problems involve non-geometric relationships between figures. For example, the number of corners in the first figure may determine the number of shapes in the second figure. These problems test conceptual and numerical reasoning.

Prerequisites

Numerical property extraction (corners, sides, intersections) Logical mapping Conceptual pattern detection Multi-step reasoning
Why This Matters: Abstract relationship problems appear in advanced exams like GMAT and CAT. You can expect 0-2 questions in CAT and Olympiad exams.

How to Solve Abstract Relationship Rule Problems

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Step 1: Identify measurable properties of the first figure (corners, sides, intersections, enclosed areas)

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Step 2: Identify measurable properties of the second figure (count of elements, shading amount, etc.)

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Step 3: Look for a numerical relationship between properties

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Step 4: Formulate the rule (e.g., corners in Figure 1 = count of circles in Figure 2)

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Step 5: Verify the rule on all given pairs

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Step 6: Apply the rule to the new pair to find the missing figure

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Step 7: Create or select the figure that satisfies the rule

Pro Strategy: Think beyond geometric transformations. Consider numerical properties: number of corners, number of sides, number of intersections, number of enclosed areas, symmetry, etc. The relationship is often a simple equality or mathematical operation.

Example Problem

Example: Pair 1: Triangle (3 corners) → 3 circles. Pair 2: Square (4 corners) → 4 circles. What comes after Pentagon (5 corners)? Solution: Step 1: Triangle has 3 corners Step 2: Second figure has 3 circles Step 3: Square has 4 corners, second has 4 circles Step 4: Rule: number of circles = number of corners in first figure Step 5: Pentagon has 5 corners → 5 circles Answer: 5 circles

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Common properties: corners, sides, intersections, enclosed regions, lines, curves
  • The relationship may be: count1 = count2, count1 = 2×count2, count1 + count2 = constant
  • Sometimes the relationship involves the shape name (triangle → 3, square → 4)
  • The relationship may be positional (top-left corner maps to something)
  • Some relationships are conceptual (arrow → direction, clock → time)
  • The abstract rule may involve symmetry, parity, or other logical properties

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

Count corners: triangle=3, square=4, pentagon=5, hexagon=6
Count sides: same as corners for regular polygons
Count intersections: + for lines crossing
Count enclosed areas: regions fully bounded by lines
Look for equality relationships first, then try multiples

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Looking only for visual transformations
Missing the numerical relationship
Not extracting all measurable properties
Assuming relationship is always simple equality
Not verifying rule on all given pairs

Exam Importance

Abstract Relationship Rule is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
0-1 questions
BANKING PO
0-1 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
0-1 questions
CAT
1-2 questions
UPSC
1-2 questions

Ready to Master Abstract Relationship Rule?

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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