Spotting a constant rotation in an abstract reasoning sequence

Worked solution

Correct answer: the second option

The principle

A single radius rotates by a constant 45 degrees anticlockwise at each step.

Steps

1. In the first figure the radius points to 3:00. In the second it points to 1:30, a rotation of 45 degrees anticlockwise.
2. In the third figure it points to 12:00, again 45 degrees anticlockwise. The rule is a constant 45 degree anticlockwise rotation.
3. A further 45 degrees anticlockwise from 12:00 gives 10:30.
4. The correct figure shows a single radius pointing to 10:30, so it is the answer.

Heuristic to carry forward

Read rotation as clock positions rather than degrees: fix the step size from the first two figures, confirm it on the third, then extend it once. Check the number of line segments too, since a rotation series is often paired with a distractor that changes the count rather than the angle.

Why each other answer is wrong

the third option

Applies a rotation of 90 degrees rather than 45, treating the gap from the third figure to the answer as two steps instead of one.

the first option

Rotates clockwise instead of anticlockwise, reversing the direction established by the sequence.

the fourth option

Points at the correct angle but is drawn as a full diameter rather than a single radius, changing the number of line segments rather than only the angle.