Understanding Letter Coding and Decoding

This question involves a common type of reasoning problem called letter coding. In these problems, words are coded based on a specific rule or pattern applied to the letters. We need to identify this pattern by looking at the given examples and then apply it to the word we need to code.

Analyzing the Given Coding Examples

Let's look at the first example provided:

• Word 1: FARM
• Coded 1: HDTP

Let's examine the position of each letter in the English alphabet and compare the original word with its coded form:

From this analysis, we can see a pattern: the letters are shifted by +2, +3, +2, +3 positions respectively.

Now, let's verify this pattern with the second example:

• Word 2: EGGS
• Coded 2: GJIV

Let's apply the same analysis:

The pattern +2, +3, +2, +3 is consistent in both examples.

Applying the Pattern to 'FOOD'

Now we will apply the identified pattern (+2, +3, +2, +3) to the word 'FOOD' to find its code.

Following the pattern, the letters of 'FOOD' are coded as H, R, Q, and G.

Therefore, 'FOOD' is coded as HRQG.

Revision Table: Letter Coding Summary

Additional Information: Types of Coding

Letter coding is a part of the broader topic of coding-decoding in reasoning ability tests. Understanding different types of coding can help solve similar problems quickly.

Common types of coding include:

• Letter Coding: Letters are replaced by other letters based on a specific rule (like the shift pattern in this problem).
• Number Coding: Words are assigned numerical values based on letter positions or other calculations.
• Symbol Coding: Letters or words are represented by symbols.
• Mixed Coding: A combination of letters, numbers, and symbols is used.
• Substitution Coding: Words are directly substituted with other words (e.g., 'blue is called green', 'green is called red').

To excel in coding-decoding, it is helpful to memorize the position of each letter in the alphabet and practice identifying various patterns like shifting, reversing, or skipping letters.