Question

If the first 3 letters of the word 'SESQUIPEDALIAN' are reversed, the next 3 are also reversed and the rest are written in the alphabetical order, how many letters will not retain their original position?

• A. 8
• B. 9
• C. 10
• D. 11
• E. 12

Hint:

When a segment is reversed, letters in the exact middle of an odd-numbered segment always retain their position. Since SES is a palindrome, all three letters retain their positions.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

To solve the problem, we need to manipulate the word "SESQUIPEDALIAN" according to the instructions given.

• Step 1: Reverse the first three letters.
  \(\text{Original: } \text{SES}\)
  After reversing, it becomes: \(\text{ESS}\)
• Step 2: Reverse the next three letters.
  \(\text{Original: } \text{QUI}\)
  After reversing, it becomes: \(\text{IUQ}\)
• Step 3: Write the remaining letters in alphabetical order.
  Remaining letters: \(\text{PEDALIAN}\)
  Alphabetically, this becomes: \(\text{AADEILNP}\)

Now, let's combine these parts together:

New word: \(\text{ESSIUQAADEILNP}\)

Compare this with the original word "SESQUIPEDALIAN" to see how many letters have changed positions:

• Original: SESQUIPEDALIAN
• Transformed: ESSIUQAADEILNP

Now let's list the letters that retain their positions:

• Original: SSES - SES
• Transformed: ESSIUQ - Different places for each segment
• Original PEDALIAN
• Transformed: AADEILNP - Positions changed

Thus, no letter retains its original position within the rearrangement and sorting steps.

Hence, all 12 letters have changed their position.

Therefore, the correct answer is: 12.