In a certain code language, if BADLY is coded as CDFAN, then how is FORTY coded in that language?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

Explanation

The coding logic is a two-step process derived from the example 'BADLY' -> 'CDFAN'.
Step 1: Each letter is shifted two positions forward in the alphabet (e.g., F+2 -> H, O+2 -> Q).
Step 2: The resulting letters are rearranged. The first and second letters are swapped, and the fourth and fifth letters are swapped.
Applying this to 'FORTY': The shifted letters are H, Q, T, V, A. Swapping positions (1<>2 and 4<>5) gives the final code QHTAV.

Option A: This is the result of applying only the first step of the logic (shifting each letter by +2) without performing the second step (swapping the letter positions).
Option B: This code does not follow the established pattern. The letters seem to be derived from a completely different and inconsistent rule.
Option D: This code does not follow the established +2 shift and swap pattern. There is no simple, consistent relationship between 'FORTY' and 'BWURI'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning: Coding-Decoding by Letter Shifting and Positional Swapping as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a clinical question, this type of problem assesses logical and analytical reasoning, a critical skill for nurses in clinical problem-solving and decision-making.
It tests the ability to identify patterns, form a hypothesis, and apply it systematically, which is analogous to how a nurse assesses patient symptoms and lab data to inform a plan of care.
What if the code for BADLY was 'DCEOO'? The pattern would change. Here, B+2=D, A+2=C, but then D+1=E, L+3=O. The pattern is inconsistent, suggesting a more complex key or a flawed question, requiring careful re-evaluation—a skill also needed in clinical practice when data is ambiguous.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully analyze the given example pair (BADLY → CDFAN) to identify the relationship between the word and its code.
Break down the transformation. Check for simple patterns like letter shifting (e.g., +1, +2, -1), reversal, or positional changes.
Form a hypothesis. Notice that B is the 2nd letter and D is the 4th (+2), while A is the 1st and C is the 3rd (+2). Hypothesize that each letter is shifted forward by two places.
Test this hypothesis on the full word 'BADLY'. This gives 'DCFNA'. Compare this to the given code 'CDFAN'.
Identify the difference between your intermediate result ('DCFNA') and the actual code ('CDFAN'). This reveals the second step of the pattern: the first two letters are swapped, and the fourth and fifth letters are swapped.
Apply this confirmed two-step rule (shift +2, then swap 1&2 and 4&5) to the target word 'FORTY' to find the correct answer and select the matching option.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Logical Reasoning: Coding-Decoding by Letter Shifting and Positional Swapping
Stem keywords: code language, BADLY, CDFAN, FORTY
Lead-in keywords: how is

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Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

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