If Cat is 3120, then what will Dog be?

Appeared in: RML PRE 2025

Explanation

The coding rule involves substituting each letter with its numerical position in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.).
For the word 'Cat', the letters C, A, and T correspond to the numbers 3, 1, and 20, respectively. Concatenating these numbers gives the code 3120.
Applying this same logic to the word 'Dog', the letters D, O, and G correspond to the numbers 4, 15, and 7.
When these numbers are concatenated in the correct order, they form the code 4157.

Option A: This option incorrectly uses the number 2 for the letter 'g'. The correct alphabetical position for 'g' is 7.
Option B: This option incorrectly orders the numbers corresponding to the letters 'o' and 'g'. The code for 'o' (15) should come before the code for 'g' (7).
Option C: This option also incorrectly orders the numbers for 'o' and 'g'. It places 'g' (7) before the last digit of 'o' (15).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Alphabetical position coding in logical reasoning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, this type of logical reasoning enhances analytical and pattern-recognition skills, which are crucial for nurses.
Nurses must constantly identify patterns in patient data, such as vital sign trends or symptom progression, to make sound clinical judgments. Exercises like this strengthen that cognitive ability.
What if the coding rule involved reverse alphabetical order (Z=1, Y=2, etc.)? In that case, C=24, A=26, T=7, so 'Cat' would be 24267. 'Dog' would be D=23, O=12, G=20, resulting in the code 231220.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully examine the given example: 'Cat' is coded as '3120'. Your goal is to find the rule connecting the word to the number.
Break down the example. Consider the alphabetical position of each letter: C=3, A=1, T=20.
Observe how these numbers (3, 1, 20) are combined. In this case, they are simply placed next to each other (concatenated) to form 3120.
Now, apply this identified rule to the word 'Dog'.
Find the alphabetical position for each letter in 'Dog': D=4, O=15, G=7.
Concatenate these numbers in the same order: 4, 15, 7, which gives 4157.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RML PRE 2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.