Understanding Coding Decoding: SKILLS to HPROOH

This question asks us to decode a word based on a given example. We are told that in a specific code language, the word "SKILLS" is written as "HPROOH". Our task is to figure out the pattern used in this coding and then apply the same pattern to find the coded form of the word "PLACES".

Analyzing the Code Pattern for SKILLS

Let's look at the letters in "SKILLS" and their corresponding letters in "HPROOH" and see if we can find a relationship. We can list the letters and their positions in the English alphabet:

Observing the position numbers, let's check for common patterns like shifting letters or reversing the alphabet. A common pattern involves 'opposite' letters in the alphabet, where the position of a letter and its opposite add up to 27. Let's check this:

• S is the 19th letter. The 8th letter is H. \(19 + 8 = 27\). S and H are opposite letters.
• K is the 11th letter. The 16th letter is P. \(11 + 16 = 27\). K and P are opposite letters.
• I is the 9th letter. The 18th letter is R. \(9 + 18 = 27\). I and R are opposite letters.
• L is the 12th letter. The 15th letter is O. \(12 + 15 = 27\). L and O are opposite letters.

It appears the coding pattern is that each letter in the original word is replaced by its opposite letter in the English alphabet.

Applying the Opposite Letter Pattern to PLACES

Now, we apply the same pattern to the word "PLACES". We will find the opposite letter for each letter in "PLACES" using the rule that the sum of the positions of opposite letters is 27.

Let's decode each letter of PLACES:

• P: P is the \(16^{th}\) letter. Its opposite is the letter at position \(27 - 16 = 11\). The \(11^{th}\) letter is K.
• L: L is the \(12^{th}\) letter. Its opposite is the letter at position \(27 - 12 = 15\). The \(15^{th}\) letter is O.
• A: A is the \(1^{st}\) letter. Its opposite is the letter at position \(27 - 1 = 26\). The \(26^{th}\) letter is Z.
• C: C is the \(3^{rd}\) letter. Its opposite is the letter at position \(27 - 3 = 24\). The \(24^{th}\) letter is X.
• E: E is the \(5^{th}\) letter. Its opposite is the letter at position \(27 - 5 = 22\). The \(22^{nd}\) letter is V.
• S: S is the \(19^{th}\) letter. Its opposite is the letter at position \(27 - 19 = 8\). The \(8^{th}\) letter is H.

Resulting Coded Word for PLACES

Combining the opposite letters for each letter in PLACES, we get the coded word:

P \(\rightarrow\) K
L \(\rightarrow\) O
A \(\rightarrow\) Z
C \(\rightarrow\) X
E \(\rightarrow\) V
S \(\rightarrow\) H

So, PLACES is written as KOZXVH in this code language.

Checking the Options

Let's compare our result with the given options:

1. KOZXVH
2. KOBXVG
3. LOZXVI
4. KPZXUH

Our calculated coded word, KOZXVH, matches the first option.

Coding Decoding Revision

This question demonstrates a common type of letter coding where letters are substituted based on a fixed rule. Understanding the alphabet positions and common patterns like reverse alphabet series (sum of positions = 27) is key to solving such problems.

Additional Coding Decoding Information

Other common coding decoding patterns include:

• Shifting letters by a fixed number of positions (e.g., A becomes C, B becomes D - a shift of +2).
• Reversing the order of letters in the word or parts of the word.
• Replacing letters with their position numbers.
• Using a mixed pattern combining shifts and reversals.
• Coding based on vowels and consonants differently.

Practicing different types of problems helps in quickly identifying the pattern.