Question

If MONEY is coded as 144 200 171 0 600, then DOLLAR is coded as ________

• A. -9 200 119 119 -24 299
• B. -8 200 106 106 -20 200
• C. 122 200 102 102 10 154
• D. 120 200 101 101 08 156

Hint:

Find each letter's position in the alphabet, square it, then subtract 25.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Rewrite the pattern as a product instead of a subtraction.
Since $n^2 - 25 = (n - 5)(n + 5)$, the code for a letter in position $n$ is just this product, easier to compute for small numbers.

Step 2: Verify with MONEY.
M, $n = 13$: $(13-5)(13+5) = 8 \times 18 = 144$. O, $n = 15$: $(15-5)(15+5) = 10 \times 20 = 200$. N, $n = 14$: $(14-5)(14+5) = 9 \times 19 = 171$. E, $n = 5$: $(5-5)(5+5) = 0 \times 10 = 0$. Y, $n = 25$: $(25-5)(25+5) = 20 \times 30 = 600$. Every value matches, so the rule $(n-5)(n+5)$ is confirmed.

Step 3: Find each letter's position in DOLLAR.
D = 4, O = 15, L = 12, L = 12, A = 1, R = 18.

Step 4: Apply $(n-5)(n+5)$ to each position.
D: $(4-5)(4+5) = (-1)(9) = -9$. O: $(15-5)(15+5) = 10 \times 20 = 200$. L: $(12-5)(12+5) = 7 \times 17 = 119$. L: 119 again. A: $(1-5)(1+5) = (-4)(6) = -24$. R: $(18-5)(18+5) = 13 \times 23 = 299$.

Step 5: Order the results as D, O, L, L, A, R.
This gives -9, 200, 119, 119, -24, 299, matching option A.

Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{-9\ \ 200\ \ 119\ \ 119\ \ {-24}\ \ 299} \]