Learn the 3-Step Method
1Read the rows.
Across each row: white → grey → black. Shading is the row rule.
2Read the columns.
Down each column: 3 → 4 → 5 sides. Shape is the column rule.
3Intersect at the gap.
Missing cell: row 3 (pentagon) + column 3 (black) → black pentagon.
Worked Example
Confirm the answer above against the options: black pentagon, grey pentagon, black square.
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
Half the evidence! The grey pentagon fits the column but breaks the row. Every matrix answer must satisfy BOTH directions.
Rules, not neighbours! The missing cell isn’t ‘like the one beside it’ — it’s what the row and column rules jointly demand.
Rare but real! Some grids rule by diagonals. If rows and columns won’t settle it, scan the diagonals before guessing.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Find the rule reading across the rows.
- Find the rule reading down the columns.
- The missing cell satisfies both at once.
- Stuck? Check the diagonals.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Find the row rule from the complete rows.
- Find the column rule from the complete columns.
- The missing cell must satisfy both rules simultaneously.
- If neither direction resolves it, check the diagonals.
Frequently asked questions
How do you solve matrix (grid) questions?
Work out what changes across the rows and what changes down the columns using the complete lines, then fill the gap with the figure both rules demand.
Why do children pick wrong matrix options?
They satisfy one direction only — the option that fits the row but breaks the column is always offered. Test both.
Do matrices ever use diagonal rules?
Occasionally — if rows and columns don't produce a unique answer, scan the diagonals for the pattern.
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