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 a word into two equal halves and reverses the letters within each half independently. For SYSTEM (6 letters), the halves are SYS and TEM; reversing each gives SYS and MET, producing SYSMET. For NEARER (6 letters), the halves are NEA and RER; reversing each gives AEN and RER, producing AENRER.
• FRACTION has 8 letters, so it splits into two halves of four: FRAC and TION.
• Reversing the first half FRAC gives CARF.
• Reversing the second half TION gives NOIT.
• Concatenating the two reversed halves yields CARFNOIT, which is option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) CARFTION
- CARFTION reverses only the first half (FRAC → CARF) but leaves the second half TION unchanged instead of reversing it to NOIT.
- (b) FRACNOIT
- FRACNOIT reverses only the second half (TION → NOIT) but leaves the first half FRAC unchanged instead of reversing it to CARF.
- (c) NOITCARF
- NOITCARF is the entire word FRACTION reversed as a single string, not the two halves reversed 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.