A military code writes SYSTEM as SYSMET and NEARER as AENRER. Using the same code, FRACTION can be written as :
- (a) CARFTION
- (b) FRACNOIT
- (c) NOITCARF
- (d) CARFNOIT ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• The code splits the word into two halves and reverses the order of letters within each half.
• For SYSTEM (6 letters), the first half SY becomes YS and the second half TEM becomes MET, resulting in SYSMET.
• For NEARER (6 letters), the first half NE becomes EN and the second half ARER becomes RERA, resulting in AENRER.
• Applying this to FRACTION (8 letters), split it into FRAC and TION.
• Reverse the first half FRAC to get CARF.
• Reverse the second half TION to get NOIT.
• Combining these gives CARFNOIT, which matches option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) CARFTION
- CARFTION only reverses the first half (FRAC to CARF) but leaves the second half (TION) unchanged.
- (b) FRACNOIT
- FRACNOIT leaves the first half (FRAC) unchanged and only reverses the second half (TION to NOIT).
- (c) NOITCARF
- NOITCARF reverses the entire word as a single unit rather than reversing each half separately.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.