If CARING is coded as EDVGKC and SHARES is coded as UKEPBO, how will CASKET be…

Concept

In a letter-shift code each position of the word is moved a fixed number of places along the alphabet. To break such a code, compare a known word with its code letter by letter and record the shift (+ for forward, - for backward) at every position. The same position-wise shift pattern then applies to any new word.

Finding the rule

Compare CARING with EDVGKC position by position:

1. C → E (+2)

2. A → D (+3)

3. R → V (+4)

4. I → G (-2)

5. N → K (-3)

6. G → C (-4)

So the rule is: shift the first three letters +2, +3, +4 and the last three letters -2, -3, -4. The word SHARES confirms the same pattern, giving UKEPBO.

Applying the rule to CASKET

1. C + 2 = E

2. A + 3 = D

3. S + 4 = W

4. K - 2 = I

5. E - 3 = B

6. T - 4 = P

CASKET is coded as EDWIBP.

Cross-check

Re-applying the shifts to EDWIBP in reverse (E-2, D-3, W-4, I+2, B+3, P+4) returns C, A, S, K, E, T, which is CASKET. The code is consistent in both directions.