Which figure from the options comes next in the series of problem figures given below?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) →
Two things change from figure to figure: one dot is taken away each time (7, 6, 5, 4, 3 dots), and the black star moves one place anticlockwise round the edge of the box each time. So the next figure has 2 dots and the black star at the top-left corner.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) — Incorrect. The number of dots is right, but the black star has moved one place clockwise instead of anticlockwise.
Option (3) — Incorrect. The black star is right, but the number of dots has not changed: there are still 3, as in the last figure.
Option (4) — Incorrect. The number of dots is right, but the black star has moved two places instead of one place.