What is Figural Analogy?

Figural analogy or Figural classification is done by assessing figural elements and pictures. In these analogy questions, students need to assess pictures or figures. You need to choose the questions based on the pairs of different figures and select the right answers to these questions. Hence, students need to find a connection based on shape, size, elements, rotation, etc. Questions regarding figural series are common among various competitive exams RRB Clerk, SBI Clerk, RBI Grade A, PO, LIC AAO, etc. 

The following questions can help you understand the concept of figure analogy. 

Finding the Right Pair 

The first one with a circle and + sign pairs with the circle and a triangle in the above figure. Thus, the answer is 4 because the sign matches the second figure above. 

Similarly, in the above figure, the first picture displays an L figure, and the next one displays a box, which is open at the diagonal end. However, the figure in the third box displays a similar shape as the first one.  

So, the answer should be similar to the second one. The figure in the fourth box looks similar to the second one. Hence, the answer is the fourth one. 

(i) Look at the following figure carefully. 

The first and the second display a significant relationship in the above figure. In the first figure, the square is inside the circle. The second figure shows that the circle is inside the square. Thus, the fourth figure should be similar to the third one. So, the right answer should be no. 2. 

(ii) The second figure shows that the hexagon is inside the triangle. Hence, figure 2 displays the right relationship between the two. 

Have a look at the below figure carefully. 

The above figure shows that the first box has four letters, i.e. O, R, T, S. In this figure series, the second box is the mirror image of the first one. That’s why the pair to the third one should be option 1. It is because the structure of both the figures is similar. 

Positioning of the figures

Have a look at the following figure series to understand the relationship and select the right answer. 

As you can see from the above figure reasoning, the triangle is inside the circle. And the circle is inside a square. The second image shows that the square is inside a triangle. After that, the triangle is inside a circle. 

Therefore, the answer to this figure is 2. It is because it has the same sequence as the second. So, you need to observe the sequencing to get the right answer. 

Important Tips for Figural Analogy 

These important tips can help in solving figural series effectively. Take notes from them to solve the answers easily. 

Notice the Rotation of the Figures

From the above examples, you should notice the rotation of the figure series. You must notice how the first and second figure has been rotated. If you can identify that, then you can select the right answer. 

The above image is an example of figure rotation in figure reasoning. For this, option 1 is the right answer. It is because the curved pin in the box rotates anti-clockwise at 90 degrees. 

Then, it moves toward the adjacent sides in the clockwise direction. Thus, option 1 has a similar pattern to be the right option.  

Interchange of Figures

In these questions of figural classification, the images are interchanged to form a new image. Take a look at the figure below. 

As you can see, the inner element increases in size in the next figure. Thus, the right answer for this should be 1 because it has the same pattern. So, you must notice this pattern of figural series to find the right answer. 

Figure Dislocation

Additionally, figure dislocation is also one of the common types of figural reasoning. In this type of question, the figure is dislocated or combined. It can also give a clue to the right answer. Have a look at the following figure to understand the figure dislocation in figural reasoning. 

Every figure is dislocated and forms a new figure. But, still, they are connected with each other in a significant pattern. As you can see, option 3 is the right answer. The reason is that it has the same figural classification as option B of the question figure.  

Conclusion

Finding the right answer in a figural series is not that hard. You just need the presence of mind and analytical thinking. There are some tips that you need to keep in mind. You must notice some important factors to select the right options. Notice the figure dislocation, water image, mirror image and image rotation to find the relationship between the two. Hence, in this way, you can easily find the right answer to solve figural reasoning. So, practise regularly to become habituated and ace the exam.