< Puzzles < Bongard problems

Please note that as of September 26, 2019, Harry Foundalis has added new problems to his index and changed a number of old ones. He has also supplied official solutions at . Thus, the table provided here is obsolete.

The table shows what is differentiated from the left and right.

The problems themselves are available at www.foundalis.com/res/bps/bpidx.htm.

#LeftRightCreator
1EmptyNot emptyBongard
2Big figuresSmall figuresBongard
3Outlined figuresFilled figuresBongard
4Convex figuresConcave figuresBongard
5Boxy shapesCurvy shapesBongard
6TrianglesQuadrilateralsBongard
7Stretched verticallyStretched horizontallyBongard
8Right sideLeft sideBongard
9Smooth contoursPointy contoursBongard
10TrianglesQuadrilateralsBongard
11Elongated shapesNot elongatedBongard
12Elongated convex hullNot elongated convex hullBongard
13Vertical rectangles, horizontal ellipsesHorizontal rectangles, vertical ellipsesBongard
14Large total line lengthSmall total line lengthBongard
15Closed regionsOpen regionsBongard
16Counterclockwise spiralClockwise spiralBongard
17Angle directed inwardNo inward angleBongard
18NeckNo neckBongard
19Horizontal neckVertical neckBongard
20Dots on same side of neckDots on different sidesBongard
21Small figure presentNo small figures presentBongard
22Sizes approximately equalSizes differBongard
23One figureTwo figuresBongard
24Circle presentNo circlesBongard
25Triangles are filledCircles are filledBongard
26Filled triangleNo filled triangleBongard
27More shaded figuresMore outlined figuresBongard
28More filled circlesMore outlined circlesBongard
29More circles insideMore circles outsideBongard
30Line crosses itselfLine does not cross by itselfBongard
31One lineTwo linesBongard
32Sharp projectionNo sharp projectionBongard
33Acute angleNo acute angleBongard
34Big holeSmall holeBongard
35Hole parallel to figureHole perpendicular to figureBongard
36Triangle above circleCircle above triangleBongard
37Triangle above circleCircle above triangleBongard
38Triangle larger than circleCircle larger than triangleBongard
39Lines almost parallelNot all lines parallelBongard
40Three collinear pointsNo collinear pointsBongard
41White points in a lineWhite points make a triangleBongard
42Enclosed points in a lineEnclosed points make a triangleBongard
43Squiggle bigger on rightSquiggle bigger on leftBongard
44Both branches have a dotOne branch has both dotsBongard
45White shape covers part of blackBlack shape covers part of whiteBongard
46Triangle covers part of circleCircle covers part of triangleBongard
47Triangle in circleCircle in triangleBongard
48Black above whiteWhite above blackBongard
49Enclosed dots close, outer dots spread outEnclosed dots spread out, outer dots closeBongard
50Figure is (approximately) left-right symmetricFigure is not symmetricBongard
51Two dots are close togetherNo two dots are closeBongard
52Arrows point opposite ways on trackArrows point in same way on trackBongard
53Outer polygon has more sidesInner polygon has more sidesBongard
54Plus-Circle-Triangle goes clockwisePlus-Circle-Triangle goes counter-clockwiseBongard
55Dot is a bit counter-clockwise of notchDot is a bit clockwise of notchBongard
56Colors matchBoth black and white shapesBongard
57Two copies of an objectTwo different objectsBongard
58Black squares are same sizeBlack squares are different sizeBongard
59Same shape, different size (similar objects)Not similar objectsBongard
60Two shapes are similarNo two shapes are similarBongard
61Line splits plusses into equal numbersLine splits plusses into unequal numbersBongard
62The two ends of the line are far apartThe two ends of the line are close togetherBongard
63Shadow at right sideShadow at left sideBongard
64Small circle is not on axis of ellipseSmall circle is on axis of ellipseBongard
65Triangles are on a horizontal lineTriangles are arranged verticallyBongard
66Unconnected dots are on a horizontal lineUnconnected dots are on a vertical lineBongard
67Right branch attached above left branchLeft branch attached above right branchBongard
68Right branch goes higher than left branchLeft branch goes higher than right branchBongard
69Dot is on central stemDot is on a side branchBongard
70All branches come from central stemBranches have branchesBongard
71Three levels of nestingTwo levels of nestingBongard
72The line ends are parallel to each otherThe line ends are perpendicular to each otherBongard
73Ellipse and rectangle are perpendicularEllipse and rectangle are parallelBongard
74Body is widest at baseBody is widest at topBongard
75Triangle is located at hollow side of arc (inside)Triangle is located "outside" the arcBongard
76The long sides are curved inwardLong sides are curved outwardBongard
77(Approximately) equal anglesUnequal anglesBongard
78Three lines (extended) meet at a pointThree lines not concurrentBongard
79Black dot closer to circle than to triangleBlack dot closer to triangle than to circleBongard
80Plus is equidistant from dotsPlus is closer to one dotBongard
81Black and white objects can be separated by a lineNo line separates white from blackBongard
82Three of the pluses always form an (approximately) equilateral triangleNo three of the pluses form equilateral triangleBongard
83Circle inside plus regionCircle outside plus regionBongard
84Square outside "necklace"Square inside "necklace"Bongard
85Three linesFive linesBongard
86Three branchesFive branchesBongard
87Four segmentsFive segmentsBongard
88Three pillsFive pillsBongard
89Three groupsFive groupsBongard
90Three white groupsFour white groupsBongard
91Three of somethingFour of somethingBongard
92Single chain with two endsBranched chainBongard
93Branch point is whiteBranch point is blackBongard
94Black in middleBlack at endBongard
95Vertical stripesHorizontal stripesBongard
96TriangleQuadrilateralBongard
97Triangular formCircular formBongard
98TriangleQuadrilateralBongard
99Circle necklace crosses triangle necklaceCircle necklace doesn't cross triangle necklaceBongard
100Letter АLetter БBongard
101Two horizontal indentationsOne horizontal and one vertical indentationHofstadter
102Adornments on track point outAdornments point out-in-in-outHofstadter
103Line plus point forms isosceles triangleLine plus point forms scalene triangleHofstadter
104One circle passes through center of otherCircle centers disjoint from circlesHofstadter
105Ends of connecting line point the same wayLine ends do not point the same wayHofstadter
106Line through dots has negative slopeLine through dots has positive slopeHofstadter
107Three plain sidesThree not plain sidesHofstadter
108Protrusions smaller at endsProtrusions larger at endsHofstadter
109Circle to the right of average plus positionCircle to the left of average plus positionHofstadter
110Four circlesMore or less than four circlesHofstadter
111Intermediate shape is triangleIntermediate shape is square or circleHofstadter
112Evenly spaced horizontallyEvenly spaced verticallyHofstadter
113"T" junction"Y" junctionHofstadter
114Four crossingsTwo crossingsHofstadter
115Outermost and innermost shapes are connectedOutermost and innermost shapes not connectedHofstadter
116Bottom of polygon is a sideBottom of polygon is a pointHofstadter
117Triangle points to center of circleTriangle does not point to center of circleHofstadter
118No cyclesHas a cycleHofstadter
119One circle with small deviationsSomething elseHofstadter
120Only right turns or only left turnsMixture of left and right turnsHofstadter
121Pairs on top determine bottom: ∨∨/O ∨∧/☐ ∧∨/ ∧∧/▽Top is flipped: ∧∧/O ∧∨/☐ ∨∧/ ∨∨/▽Hofstadter
122Line divides interior into two regionsSomething elseHofstadter
123Two shapes with similar silhouettesTwo shapes with dissimilar silhouettesHofstadter
124Shapes have same colourShapes have different colourHofstadter
125Indentation and protrusion have same shapeTwo indentations or differing shapesHofstadter
126One big and one small shapeTwo shapes of the same size, or three shapesHofstadter
127One circleAn even number of circlesHofstadter
128Inside shapes match outside shapesInside shapes differ from outside shapesHofstadter
129Circular indentation is on a protrusionCircular indentation is on an indentationHofstadter
130Big shape has curvesBig shape has no curvesHofstadter
131Four dots form a parallelogramFour dots do not form a parallelogramHofstadter
132One dot above other twoOne dot below other twoHofstadter
133Circle centre collinear with dotsCircle centre not collinear with dotsHofstadter
134Circle centres are collinearCircle centres not collinearHofstadter
135Circles on same side of squiggle (can meet by rolling)Squiggle separates circlesHofstadter
136Polygon is concavePolygon is convexHofstadter
137Number of dots matches number of polygon sidesNumbers don't matchHofstadter
138All dots are on the perimeter of their convex hullOne dot is inside the convex hullHofstadter
139Sequence follows simple patternSequence is irregularHofstadter
140Two small things match, large thing differsSomething elseHofstadter
141Three and twoThree and one and oneHofstadter
142Three and two, two are adjacent in sequenceThe two are not sequentially adjacentHofstadter
143Three and twoFour and oneHofstadter
144Different features yield different 3-2 splitsDifferent features yield same 3-2 splitHofstadter
145Different features yield same 4-1 splitDifferent features yield different 4-1 splitsHofstadter
146A shape contains another if and only if it is a circleA shape contains another if and only if it is a triangleHofstadter
147Three in a line and two verticalThree in a line and two horizontalHofstadter
148A little bit missing from polygonal figureA little bit extra on polygonal figureHofstadter
149One square is aloneOne circle is aloneHofstadter
150Even number of sidesOdd number of sidesHofstadter
Odd number of squaresEven number of squares
Two matching shapes and a square (the matching shapes can be squares)Two matching shapes and either a circle or a triangle
151Ignoring the circle closest to the cross, the remaining circles form an equilateral triangleIgnoring the circle closest to the cross, the remaining circles do not form an equilateral triangleHofstadter
152Not left-right symmetricLeft-right symmetricalHofstadter
153No "staples"Has "staple" shapes by some line endsHofstadter
15445 degree flat endsRounded endsHofstadter
155Curly endsStraight endsHofstadter
156Three groupsTwo groupsHofstadter
157White backgroundBlack backgroundFoundalis
158Roughly 30 degree slopeRoughly 15 degree slopeFoundalis
159RectangleTriangleFoundalis
160Quadrilateral is almost a triangleQuadrilateral is not almost a triangleFoundalis
161Parallel lines // Collinear midpointsLines not parallel // Midpoints not collinearFoundalis
162Extending every other line segment makes them converge at a pointNot the caseFoundalis
163Identical shapes can be joined by a straight line that is not intersected by the third shapeIdentical shapes cannot be joined by an unintersected straight lineFoundalis
164# of shapes is number of sides on largest - 1# of shapes is number of sides on largest + 1Foundalis
165Segment roughly perpendicular to a polygon sideSegment parallel to a polygon sideFoundalis
166Two groupsThree groupsFoundalis
167Clusters come in pairsClusters come in triplesFoundalis
168Bulky interiorNarrow InteriorFoundalis
169Some shape appears onceShapes appear an even number of timesFoundalis
170Overall "arch" shapeOverall "X" shapeFoundalis
171Angle bisectors meet at the incentrePerpendicular bisectors meet at orthocentreFoundalis
172Has rotational symmetryNo rotational symmetryFoundalis
173All segments within about 30 degrees of each otherSegments at all anglesFoundalis
174Middle shape is convexMiddle shape is not convexFoundalis
175Small shape can slide into "C"Shape on right cannot slide into "C"Foundalis
176Short (almost straight) path between dotsLong (winding) path between dotsFoundalis
177All regions are convexThere exist concave regionsFoundalis
178Circle centred on perpendicular triangleNo perpendicular triangle, or circle not centred on itFoundalis
179Bigger at bottomBigger at topFoundalis
180White side of boundary getting widerBlack side of boundary getting widerFoundalis
181One indentationTwo indentationsFoundalis
182Overall shape is concaveOverall shape is convexFoundalis
183Ornamental endings on same side of central lineOrnamental endings on opposite sidesFoundalis
184Central part of line is smoothCentral part of line has a zig-zagFoundalis
185Ornamental regions at both endsOrnamental regions at both ends and at middleFoundalis
186Repetition of a simple themeRepetition of a multi-part themeFoundalis
187Inner polygons have one more side than overall shapeInner polygons have one side fewer than overall shapeFoundalis
188Triangles made of squares, squares made of trianglesTriangles made of triangles, squares made of squaresFoundalis
189Each group is all outlines or all solidsSome group has both a solid and an outlineFoundalis
190Items on a line have the same colorSome line has items of both colorsFoundalis
191Entrance is on leftEntrance is on rightFoundalis
192Elongated verticallyElongated horizontallyFoundalis
193White triangleWhite rectangleFoundalis
194Outer shape is rectangleOuter shape is triangleFoundalis
195Crossing your eyes to perceive the two groups of objects separated by a line as one group gives the effect of the lower objects being further awayThe effect is reversed (the lower objects look closer)Foundalis
Bottom figures slightly towards centerlineBottom figures slightly out from centerline
196LighterDarkerFoundalis
197Different font (letters more connected)Different font (letters less connected)Foundalis
198One end of chain is inside large shapeBoth ends of chain are outside large shapeFoundalis
199Stable if placed on groundWould fall over if placed on groundFoundalis
200Differences not related to numberDistinction depends on number of somethingFoundalis
201One of the shapes can imbricate into another oneNo matching pairInsana
202Even number of shapesOdd number of shapesInsana
203Number of shapes is a prime numberNumber of shapes not primeInsana
204Picture composed of 5 shapes or linesPicture composed of 4 shapes or linesInsana
205Similar shapes come in pairsAt least one type of shape has odd numberInsana
206End of spiral is verticalEnd of spiral is horizontalInsana
207Ends of the spirals are on the left half of the panelEnds of the spirals are on the right half of the panelInsana
208Spirals all leftwardSpirals all rightwardInsana
209There are no objects centered in the boxThere is an object centered in the boxInsana
210All black regions (not dots) touch the edge of the frameAt least one black region (not dots) does not touch the edge of the frameInsana
211More black than whiteMore white than blackInsana
212Square dots have small spacingDots spacing is largerInsana
213Inner extremity of the spiral crossses the lineThere is no crossing at the inner extremity of spiralInsana
214Picture makes a smiling faceVarious other picturesInsana
215The longest curve is descending and then ascending (picture makes a happy face)The longest curve is ascending and then descending (picture makes unhappy face)Insana
216Line ends with a wider dotLine has constant thicknessInsana
217Shapes are fully colouredShapes have small white spaces in themInsana
218Incomplete patterns, sequences, or shapes"Overcomplete" patterns, sequences, or shapesInsana
219The lines are parallelThe lines are not parallelInsana
220One cluster (or shape)Two clusters (or shapes)Insana
221No rectangles at the ends of the lineRectangles at the ends of the lineInsana
222No complete outline of a rectangleComplete outline of a rectangleInsana
223Big shape is a diskBig shape is a slightly flattened diskInsana
224The figures have vague central symmetryThe figures do not have any symmetryInsana
225Low contrastHigh contrastInsana
226Protrusions all bend clockwiseNo protrusions or protrusions do not all bend clockwiseInsana
227The black shapes touch the edge of the frame if and only if the black dots do not touch each otherThe black shapes touch the edge if and only if the dots touch each otherInsana
228All figures are derived from a “J” shapeAll figures are derived from a “L” shapeInsana
229It is possible to rotate one of the two figures and place it next to the other figure so that the dotted edges of the figures touch; the combined figures form some number of three by one rectangles. Each rectangle is wholly black or whiteThe figures either do not form three by one rectangles, or the formed rectangles are not wholly black or whiteInsana
230There are seven "outer" vertices of the shapes (the Xs have four vertices)There are another number of verticesInsana
231The total number of internal angles larger than 180 degrees is 5The total number of internal angles larger than 180 degrees is not 5Insana
232There are six white regionsThere are not six white regionsInsana
233Half of the shapes are starsHalf of the shapes are linesShanahan
234Circle, if dropped, winds up on the rightCircle, if dropped, winds up on the leftShanahan
235The "tail" of the circle is long enough to reach the other circleThe "tail" cannot reach the other circleShanahan
236Darker spotsNo darker spotsShanahan
237Bottom central line looks longer (note Müller-Lyer illusion)Top central line looks longer (note Müller-Lyer illusion)Shanahan
238C's face the same directionC's face opposite directionsFoundalis
239Segment fits curve opening without rotationSegment fits curve opening if rotatedFoundalis
240Ends have line of sightEnds have no line of sightHowells
241Circle circumference less than line lengthCircle circumference greater than line lengthHowells
242The dots all lie on the edges of a square with a dot at each cornerThe dots don't all lie on the edges of a square with a dot at each cornerHowells
243The shape closest to a corner is the triangleThe shape closest to a corner is a circleHowells
244Scanning row by row, left to right, the number of white squares between the black squares is constantThe number of white squares between the black squares variesHowells
245Triangle attached to edge of tetrahedronAny other graphGunnarsson
246Each triangle (if any) points to exaclty one circle (triangles cannot point at circles they are inside) and each circle is pointed to by at most one triangleEither not all triangles point to a circle or a circle has two triangles pointing at itGunnarsson
247Five curved or straight line segmentsAny other number of curved or straight line segmentsGunnarsson
248The dashed outline is a slightly shrunk copy of the solid outlined shape. The dashed outline is not translated or rotatedTwo shapes (dashed or solid-line) arranged otherwiseGunnarsson
249The dashed outline is a shrunk copy of the solid outlined shape. The dashed outline is not translated but can be rotated as long as it remains inside the larger shapeTwo shapes (dashed or solid-line) arranged otherwiseGunnarsson
250TetrahedronNot a tetrahedronGunnarsson
251Regular tetrahedron (approximately)Not a regular tetrahedronGunnarsson
252Impossible objects (not projections of actual three dimensional solids)Projections of three dimensional solidsGunnarsson
253Prime total number of objectsComposite total number of objectsGunnarsson
254There exists a pair of vertices that the circle is collinear withThere does not exist a pair of vertices that the circle is collinear withGunnarsson
255There is one and only one pairing resulting in three pairs of parallel linesThere is not one and only one pairing resulting in three pairs of parallel linesGunnarsson
256Every circle's closest neighbour is a different sizenot every circle's closest neighbour is a different sizeGunnarsson
257The distance between the dot and the right edge of the panel is equal to the distance between the middle of the line and the bottom edge of the panelThe distance between the dot and the right edge of the panel is not equal to the distance between the middle of the line and the bottom edge of the panelGunnarsson
258Shapes are reflections of each other over the x-axisShapes are reflections of each other over the y-axisGunnarsson
259Front shape is same as back shape rotated slightly clockwise and partially obscures bottom shapeTwo shapes arranged otherwiseGunnarsson
260There are two shapes that lie on the outline of the larger shape and they are smaller versions of the larger shape and each are rotated by 90 degreesThere are not two shapes that lie on the outline of the larger shape or they are not smaller versions of the larger shape or they are not 90 degree rotations of the larger shapeGunnarsson
261Line between black dots crosses line between white dotsLine between black dots doesn't cross line between white dotsIhde
262Odd number of dots in sharp bends of lineEven number of dots in sharp bends of lineBarenbaum
263One straight end line segmentNo straight end line segmentBarenbaum
264Letter has enclosed regionNo enclosed regionGáspár
265Letter has line of symmetryDoes not have line of symmetryGáspár
266Text contains junction (point receiving 3 lines).Text does not contain junctionGáspár
267Odd number of linesEven number of linesGáspár
268Symbol's profile is taller than it is wideSymbol's profile wider than it is tallGáspár
269Rotational symmetryNo rotational symmetryGáspár
270Lines vertical or horizontalNone vertical or horizontalGáspár
271Can draw in one stroke without retracing (intersections permitted)Requires retracing or more than one strokeGáspár
272Three end points (triangular)Not three end points (rectangular)Gáspár
273StableUnstableGáspár
274Symbols would collect water if it rainedSymbols would not collect water if it rainedGáspár
275The two end points of the symbol have line of sightThe two end points of the symbol do not have line of sightGáspár
276There are line segments not part of loopsSymbols are made up of only loopsGáspár
277One connected shapeTwo or more disconnected shapesGáspár
278Symbol on the left is shorterSymbol on the right is shorterGáspár
279Symbol on the left has greater black areaSymbol on the right has greater black areaGáspár
280Symbol on the left is widerSymbol on the right is widerGáspár
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