A jigsaw puzzle has 2 pieces. One of the pieces is shown above (an irregular interlocking shape with notches on one side). Which one of the given options for the missing piece when assembled will form a rectangle? The piece can be moved, rotated or flipped to assemble with the above piece. A. (piece with two upward bumps and a flat left edge) B. (piece with bumps and notches mirrored differently) C. (piece with bumps on the right side) D. (piece with bumps and a different notch pattern)
GATE 2021 · General Aptitude · Assembling Pieces · medium
Answer: Option A is the correct missing piece.
- Profile the given piece: The given piece has a complex top edge: moving left to right, it goes flat, then bump up, flat, bump up, flat. The left and bottom edges are straight. The right edge is also straight. So the missing piece must have a top edge that goes: flat, notch down, flat, notch down, flat - with the same dimensions as the bumps.
- Test each option's edge profile: Option A: has two notches (indentations) in its bottom edge at positions matching the given piece's bumps. When flipped, A's notch pattern aligns perfectly with the given piece's bumps, forming a straight combined top edge. Options B, C, D have different notch/bump patterns or positions that would leave gaps or overlaps.
- Verify the assembled outline is a rectangle: Placing option A (in the appropriate orientation) against the given piece: the combined left edge is straight, the combined right edge is straight, the bottom is flat, and the shared interface fills perfectly with no gap. The outer boundary is a rectangle.