# Can a “select a missing 3rd symbol” puzzle made at least a bit difficult?

Looking at all the Mensa IQ test puzzles, usually there are two rows with in total 6-8 symbols and where you need to choose the last one properly to match the pattern.

I wonder whether at least a bit difficult puzzle of the same principle could be made just with 3 or 4 symbols, meaning you actually see just 2 or 3 of them, respectively, and need to fill in the last one.

If so, what would be an example of a logic or pattern for these?

• I believe you might mean Mensa IQ test puzzles, and talking about what puzzles these in particular are called, I think they are called progressive matrices (or Raven matrices, I don't know). I'd have to do some more research on this, so for now, this comment is just what I think. Edit: See here. – Mr Pie Apr 23 at 10:49

Here are three puzzles with $$3$$ visual images, each being $$2\times 2$$ Raven matrices:
I cannot find such a puzzle with just $$2$$ visual designs. I guess it is unlikely because the more objects there are in the puzzle, the more specific the pattern. Like, I might have the sequence $$2$$, $$3$$. You might think the next number is $$4$$. But the answer is actually $$5$$ (the sequence is just prime numbers, and not numbers ascending by $$1$$, though how were you supposed to know that from just two terms?).