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GATE 2022 CS – Question 10

General Aptitude · Spatial Aptitude: Spatial Reasoning and Visualization · 2 marks · Multiple choice

A plot of land must be divided between four families. They want their individual plots to be similar in shape, not necessarily equal in area. The land has equally spaced poles, marked as dots in the below figure. Two ropes, R1 and R2, are already present and cannot be moved. [Figure: a grid of poles forming an octagon-like plot with two opposite corners cut; R1 is a horizontal rope on the left and R2 is a vertical rope at the top.]
What is the least number of additional straight ropes needed to create the desired plots? A single rope can pass through three poles that are aligned in a straight line.

Diagram for GATE 2022 CS question 10
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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (B) 4

Explanation

Each rope spans at most three aligned poles. The four similar plots need four additional ropes, given the symmetry of the figure about the diagonal. This answer was reasoned from the figure description and may need checking against the official key.