In a certain code, BALD

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In a certain code, BALD

by emdadul28 » Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:50 pm
In a certain code, BALD is denoted by 1,2,4,12 and FISH is denoted by 9,6,8,19. KEEN must be denoted by:

a) 5, 12, 12, 14
a) 5, 11, 11, 15
a) 5, 11, 14, 5
a) 11, 5, 5, 14
a) None

Ans: C

<I do not know which section this question have to submit. If I am wrong please place it right section.>

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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Feb 15, 2017 1:52 pm
emdadul28 wrote:In a certain code, BALD is denoted by 1,2,4,12 and FISH is denoted by 9,6,8,19. KEEN must be denoted by:

a) 5, 12, 12, 14
b) 5, 11, 11, 15
c) 5, 11, 14, 5
d) 11, 5, 5, 14
e) None
Not a valid GMAT problem.
Anyone prepping for the GMAT should feel free to ignore this problem.
That said, the code seems to function as follows:

1st number = where the word's SECOND letter appears the alphabet.
2nd number = where the word's FIRST letter appears in the alphabet.
3rd number = where the word's FOURTH letter appears in the alphabet.
4th number = where the word's THIRD letter appears in the alphabet.

BALD:
1st number = where the word's second letter ("A") appears in the alphabet = 1.
2nd number = where the word's first letter ("B") appears in the alphabet = 2.
3rd number = where the word's fourth letter ("D") appears in the alphabet = 4.
4th number = where the word's third letter ("L") appears in the alphabet = 12.
Resulting code:
1, 2, 4, 12.

FISH:
1st number = where the word's second letter ("I") appears in the alphabet = 9.
2nd number = where the word's first letter ("F") appears in the alphabet = 6.
3rd number = where the word's fourth letter ("H") appears in the alphabet = 8.
4th number = where the word's third letter ("S") appears in the alphabet = 19.
Resulting code:
9, 6, 8, 19.

KEEN:
1st number = where the word's second letter ("E") appears in the alphabet = 5.
2nd number = where the word's first letter ("K") appears in the alphabet = 11.
3rd number = where the word's fourth letter ("N") appears in the alphabet = 14.
4th number = where the word's third letter ("E") appears in the alphabet = 5.
Resulting code:
5, 11, 14, 5.

The correct answer is C.
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by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:20 pm
If # = a letter's number in the English alphabet (A = 1, B = 2, ..., Z = 26), ONE INTERPRETATION of our code is

abcd = (#b)(#a)(#d)(#c)

so KEEN = (#E)(#K)(#N)(#E) = (5)(11)(14)(5)

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by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:24 pm
As Guru notes above, though, this wouldn't be on the GMAT, since there could be more than one interpretation of the code. (This is also why you don't see "What's the next number in the sequence?" type problems on the GMAT.)