Jigsaw-Puzzle-Type Problems

Learning Objectives

In this section, you will learn to:

• identify what your task is on Jigsaw-Puzzle-Type problems
• apply the Kaplan Method for Assembling Objects questions to Jigsaw-Puzzle-Type problems

Study the question below.

1. Which figure best shows how the objects in the left box will appear if they are fit together?

   

Every AO question has a box on the very left that shows a number of individual parts. Let’s call that box on the left the instructions box. Each AO question then offers four answer choices. Three of those choices distort the shapes in the instructions box. Only one of them accurately shows how the shapes would fit together into a whole. In this case, (C) is correct.

Having trouble visualizing why (C) is correct? Study the diagram below.

However, you do not have to visualize assembling the parts in your head in order to answer AO questions. (That’s good news.)

Rather, approach these questions strategically. Did you notice that each of the answer choices in the example above is a circle dominated by a large triangle? That will be helpful. Now, focusing on the circle outline won’t be helpful, because it’s the same in all four choices. However, the placement and shape of that large triangle varies among the answer choices. Thus, focusing on that prominent triangle will help you eliminate some choices right off the bat. You can call that key shape a landmark, in the sense that it helps you find what you’re looking for.

What do you notice about the triangle depicted in the instructions box? It’s a right triangle, or very close to being a right triangle. How many of the answer choices clearly do not have right triangles? (A) and (D). Cross them off. Your landmark just knocked out half the choices.

Only (B) and (C) remain as possible choices. Find another key trait in the instructions box. Here, counting the number of shapes might be helpful. There are four shapes in the instructions box. How many shapes do (B) and (C) have? (B) has only three, so it can’t be right. Circle (C) and move on to the next question.

Here’s a method you’ll use on all Assembling Objects questions. Memorize this method now, so that you can work on mastering it in your practice.

The Kaplan Method for Assembling Objects Questions

Step 1: Identify a landmark in the instructions box.

Step 2: Eliminate any answer choices that don’t display the landmark.

Step 3: Compare other shapes to eliminate remaining choices.

Study the example below.

Question

Which figure best shows how the objects in the left box will appear if they are fit together?

Analysis

Step 1: The easiest landmark here might be the smallest shape, which looks like a small pizza slice.

Step 2: (C) and (D) don’t have that small pizza shape, so they’re out. (A) has a similar shape, but it’s far too big. So (A) is out as well. (B) is correct.

Step 3: No need to compare other shapes here.

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In Step 1, your landmark shape in Jigsaw-Puzzle-Type AO problems might be:

• the largest shape
• the smallest shape
• the shape that seems to differ the most among the answer choices
• the most oddly-shaped piece
• a shape with a recognizable angle or side (such as a right angle, or a steeply curved side)

With practice, you will learn to efficiently spot a useful landmark in the instructions box.

When you get to Step 3, here are strategies you can use to eliminate any remaining wrong answer choices:

• Count the number of parts. If you are taking the paper-and-pencil test, you can actually assign each part a number and write it in.
• Find a second landmark. If you used the largest shape in Kaplan Method Steps 1 and 2, perhaps you would use the smallest shape as your second landmark.
• Compare the sizes of the shapes in the instructions box to the remaining choices.

And here are some things to watch out for in wrong answer choices on Jigsaw-Puzzle-Type AO questions:

• You can expect one or more of the shapes in the instructions box to be inverted left-to-right or top-to-bottom in one or more of the wrong answer choices. The correct answer might move the parts around or rotate them, but it won’t invert any of them.
• An enlarged or shrunken version of a shape in the instructions box might appear in the wrong answer choices. The correct answer will have the same shapes in the same sizes.
• A shape that has all straight edges in the instructions box may have a curved edge in some wrong answer choices.
• A shape from the instructions box may be carved into two or more smaller shapes in some wrong answer choices.

Try these problems on your own, and then read the explanations below.

1. Which figure best shows how the objects in the left box will appear if they are fit together?

   

1. Which figure best shows how the objects in the left box will appear if they are fit together?

   

Explanations

Note: It’s perfectly fine if you chose different landmarks than the ones below, as long as you were able to work efficiently through the questions.

1. Step 1: The instructions box has two shapes that look like fat square brackets; those are good landmarks.

Step 2: (B) doesn’t have two of those shapes; eliminate. (C) has two but they’re too long; eliminate. Only (A) and (D) remain.

Step 3: Count the number of pieces in the instruction box: there are five. (D) has three shapes; eliminate.

(A) is correct.

2. Step 1: The instructions box has an odd shape that looks like a pie piece with two branches growing out of the narrow end; that’s a good landmark.

Step 2: (A) and (C) have no such piece; eliminate. (B) and (D) remain.

Step 3: The instructions box has four shapes; (B) has five. Eliminate (B).

(D) is correct.