Decoding back to a word — Aptitude Question
Decoding back to a word: In a certain code PLANT is written as QMBOU. What does TFBU stand for? Answer and worked solution on CodeKairo.
- Topic: Coding & Decoding
- Section: Logical Reasoning
- Difficulty: Medium
- Time target: 75 seconds
Question
In a certain code PLANT is written as QMBOU. What does TFBU stand for?
Options
- SEAT
- SEAL
- TEAM
- REST
Show the answer and the worked solution
Correct answer: A. SEAT
Worked solution
- The code adds 1 to each letter, so decoding subtracts 1.
- T→S, F→E, B→A, U→T.
- The word is SEAT.
Answer: SEAT.
The idea
To decode, reverse the direction of the shift. Confirm by re-encoding your answer and checking it matches the given code.
Shortcut. Decode just the ends: T − 1 = S and U − 1 = T. Only SEAT starts with S and ends with T; REST, TEAM and SEAL each fail one end.
Common trap. "TEAM" — the code starts with T, and a candidate who decodes F → E and B → A and then guesses a word keeps that T; every letter moves back one, so the word begins with S.