Coding–decoding with symbol map (letters → symbols): A → !, B → @, C → #, D → $, E → %, F → ^, G → &, H → *, I → +, O → =, P → α, R → β, S → γ, T → δ, U → ∠. Using only this mapping, how is the word “DEAR” coded?
Correct Answer: $ % ! β
Introduction / Context:In this coding–decoding problem, each English alphabet letter is replaced by a unique symbol. The task is to apply the given one-to-one mapping to spell a target word entirely in symbols. Such questions test careful reading, accurate symbol substitution, and attention to order.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Mapping (letters → symbols): A → !, B → @, C → #, D → $, E → %, F → ^, G → &, H → *, I → +, O → =, P → α, R → β, S → γ, T → δ, U → ∠.
- Target word: DEAR.
- Assume the mapping is exact and case-insensitive (standard MCQ convention).
Concept / Approach:Replace each letter of the target word with its corresponding symbol, preserving order. No arithmetic or rearrangement is involved; this is direct substitution.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Map D → $ (from the table).Map E → %.Map A → !.Map R → β.Combine in order: D E A R → $ % ! β.Verification / Alternative check:Re-check the mapping table to ensure each letter is correctly matched and that no symbol belongs to a different letter. The sequence order must match the original spelling “DEAR”.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- $ % & !: “&” maps to G, not A or R; the final “!” is A, not R.
- β $ # !: Starts with β (R) instead of D; “#” is C, which is not in DEAR.
- @ # ! %: “@” is B, “#” is C; neither appears in DEAR.
- None of these: The correct coded form exists among options, so this is incorrect.
Common Pitfalls:Mixing direction of mapping (reading symbols → letters) instead of letters → symbols; swapping order of letters; confusing visually similar symbols like “!” and “|”; overlooking R → β which is a Greek symbol rather than punctuation.
Final Answer:$ % ! β