The figure below is supposed to show three non-overlapping shapes: one oval and two triangles. Which one of the following figures P, Q, R, or S fits the missing portion indicated by '?' and completes the oval and the two triangles?
Show Hint
Match the curve direction of the oval and the angle of each triangle corner to the visible edges around the "?" patch.
Another way to solve this is to first fix exactly what the finished picture must contain: one full oval and two full triangles, and nothing more. Then check each option by mentally placing it into the "?" patch and seeing whether the shapes close up cleanly.
Q: Placing this piece back in gives one oval and two triangles in outline, but one triangle corner ends up pointing the wrong way compared to the rest of that triangle's outline in the main figure, so the triangle would not close into one clean triangle. Rejected.
R: The triangle piece here is a different size from the matching triangle corner already showing in the main figure, so putting it in would create a triangle with a kink in its edge instead of a straight side. Rejected.
S: The oval piece is too large. Adding it to the visible oval arc would make an oval bigger than what the rest of the figure's outline allows, so the shapes would not close up into a clean single oval. Rejected.
P: Placing this piece in completes the oval into one smooth, closed curve and both triangles into clean, straight sided triangles, with no kinks, gaps, or extra lines anywhere.
Since P is the only piece whose insertion leaves exactly one oval and two triangles with clean outlines, P is the correct missing piece.
Let's summarize:
The finished figure must contain exactly one oval and two triangles, no more and no less.
Check each option by imagining it placed in the gap and see if every outline closes up cleanly.
Only P closes every shape without a kink, gap, or mismatch.
So option (A), figure P, is confirmed as the answer.
