Official explanation
Selected Community Explanations
1. u/trejj
Original comment:
“G, this is the classic XOR gate. (and a prime example of how these kinds of tests measure experience and education, rather than intelligence)
In other words, there are exactly two of each on every row.”
Why we selected this comment:
This comment identifies the XOR rule behind the puzzle. In each row, shapes shared by the first two cells cancel out, while shapes appearing in only one of them remain in the third cell. Applying this rule to the bottom row removes the shared triangle and leaves the square, oval and empty circle, matching option G. The observation that each shape appears exactly twice per completed row offers a simple way to verify the answer. Our selection recognises this explanation of the pattern; the broader statement about intelligence is the commenter’s personal view.
2. u/miffit
Original comment:
“Right answer, wrong method.
You need to identify a pattern in the change across the first two rows then apply it to the third.
If we copied the whole square and pasted it to the right you would see a pattern repeating of an item appearing twice and disappearing once for those items in that row.
Since this pattern holds for the first two rows we assume it holds for the third.”
Why we selected this comment:
This explanation shows how to establish a rule using the completed rows before applying it to the missing cell. Its central observation is that each shape present in a row appears in two cells and is absent from the third. In the bottom row, the triangle already appears twice, while the square, oval and empty circle each appear only once. The missing cell therefore needs those three shapes without the triangle, giving option G.
3. u/Negative-Toe1863
Original comment:
“G. Every symbol in a column appears twice.”
Why we selected this comment:
This comment gives a concise explanation using the columns. In the rightmost column, the large curved shape already appears twice. The empty circle, square and oval each appear only once, so the missing cell must contain these three shapes to complete the pattern. Option G satisfies this condition. The column-based explanation also provides an independent check of the row-based solutions.
