# Does this puzzle have a clear solution?

Just wondering whether anyone can see an unambiguous solution the reasoning test example below? Please explain your reasoning if possible. Thanks.

• Some of the text in the image is unclear. Add a link? – Rohcana Sep 17 '15 at 16:45
• At least you should identify the source of the question. – dennisdeems Sep 17 '15 at 16:48
• I wonder if others would consider this question well-formed. To me it's ambiguous. – dennisdeems Sep 17 '15 at 17:05
• The movement of the puzzle is dictated by the right column of each set, the right column from A becomes left column of B flipped with enlarged character. The spacing of the arrow [top-right] of block E makes B in the answer selection set the winner. – moonbutt74 Sep 17 '15 at 22:24

The answer is either A or B...

In each move:

• bottom right shaded symbol becomes top left hollow symbol

• top right symbol is rotated and enlarged to become bottom left symbol

I can't see any means of deciding between A and B - the horizontal alignment of the left column maybe? - so I'm going to go with no, I don't think there is a unique solution.

Or if a feeble reason will do, then

• new symbol in top right must contain a vertical line

And then the answer is uniquely A.

• I suspect it's B just because that way all the new symbols are different. – Zandar Sep 17 '15 at 16:59
• @Zandar It doesn't have to be new though, top-right in example 4 is the same as top right in example 2, just rotated. – A E Sep 17 '15 at 17:03
• Apparently this puzzle considers rotation enough to make a symbol different. – Zandar Sep 17 '15 at 17:05
• @Zandar, could be. – A E Sep 17 '15 at 17:05

It actually does make sense when you see the hint.

If a diagram is of the form

\begin{matrix} L & ᴎ \\ M & ⚫ \\ \end{matrix}

Then the next is of the form

\begin{matrix} \circ & P \\ \text{N} & Q \\ \end{matrix}

Here $\circ$ was filled black in the first matrix and filled empty in the second and ᴎ was flipped vertically and enlarged. P and Q are new unused figures.

Hence the answer should be B. A doesn't work because the hollow arrow was used before. The diamond was used before too, but it was of different proportions. Look at the hint, it actually reveals the whole answer.

I could answer this quickly only because I saw the hint. I don't know how much time it would take me if I didn't (or if I could even solve it for that matter)

Is the problem clear enough?

It seems that A E has come up with a equally valid reasoning for A. In my opinion, the puzzle is unambiguous enough to discard options C,D,E. But differentiating between A and B is up to interpretation.

• Why can't it be $A$? – GentlePurpleRain Sep 17 '15 at 16:58
• I think "new" is ambiguous; it could refer to the current iteration rather than the whole series. There has already been an arrow, but there has also already been a diamond. But this is likely the intended answer. – dennisdeems Sep 17 '15 at 17:02
• @dennisdeems Not in the same proportions. – Zandar Sep 17 '15 at 17:03
• @moonbutt74 There is nothing in question to clarify that. There is nothing that suggests mine either, but it is a pattern puzzle which means you are supposed to figure these out by yourselves. Often this means these puzzles are open to interpretation which is the case here. – Rohcana Sep 17 '15 at 22:32
• @moonbutt74 How do you discard option A (as in AE's answer) or option B(as in mine). – Rohcana Sep 18 '15 at 5:59