Understanding the Cipher Language Pattern

The problem asks us to decode the word 'SCOOTER' based on the given examples of a certain cipher language. We are given two examples:

• 'BIKE' is coded as 'YFHB'
• 'CAR' is coded as 'ZXO'

We need to find the coding pattern used in this cipher.

Analyzing the BIKE and CAR Coded Examples

Let's examine the relationship between the letters in the original words and their coded forms. We can look at the position of each letter in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26).

Example 1: BIKE → YFHB

• B is the 2nd letter, Y is the 25th letter. \(2 \rightarrow 25\). \(25 = 2 - 3\) (wrapping around, A=1, Z=0/26).
• I is the 9th letter, F is the 6th letter. \(9 \rightarrow 6\). \(6 = 9 - 3\).
• K is the 11th letter, H is the 8th letter. \(11 \rightarrow 8\). \(8 = 11 - 3\).
• E is the 5th letter, B is the 2nd letter. \(5 \rightarrow 2\). \(2 = 5 - 3\).

From this example, it appears that each letter is shifted 3 positions backward in the alphabet. When shifting backward from A, we wrap around to Z.

Example 2: CAR → ZXO

Let's test the same pattern (shifting 3 positions backward) on the second example.

• C is the 3rd letter, Z is the 26th letter. \(3 \rightarrow 26\). \(26 = 3 - 3\) (wrapping around: C → B → A → Z). This matches the pattern.
• A is the 1st letter, X is the 24th letter. \(1 \rightarrow 24\). \(24 = 1 - 3\) (wrapping around: A → Z → Y → X). This matches the pattern.
• R is the 18th letter, O is the 15th letter. \(18 \rightarrow 15\). \(15 = 18 - 3\). This matches the pattern.

The pattern is consistent across both examples: each letter in the original word is replaced by the letter 3 positions before it in the alphabet, with wrap-around from A to Z.

Coding SCOOTER using the Pattern

Now we apply this pattern (shift -3) to the word 'SCOOTER'.

• S: S is the 19th letter. \(19 - 3 = 16\). The 16th letter is P.
• C: C is the 3rd letter. \(3 - 3 = 0\), which wraps to 26. The 26th letter is Z.
• O: O is the 15th letter. \(15 - 3 = 12\). The 12th letter is L.
• O: O is the 15th letter. \(15 - 3 = 12\). The 12th letter is L.
• T: T is the 20th letter. \(20 - 3 = 17\). The 17th letter is Q.
• E: E is the 5th letter. \(5 - 3 = 2\). The 2nd letter is B.
• R: R is the 18th letter. \(18 - 3 = 15\). The 15th letter is O.

Combining the coded letters, we get PZLLQBO.

Conclusion

Based on the cipher pattern where each letter is shifted 3 places backward, the word 'SCOOTER' is coded as 'PZLLQBO'.

This matches option 3.