If ‘CABLE’ is coded as ‘XZYOV’, a possible decode of YZXP is

Concept

In a letter-coding puzzle, each letter of a word is typically replaced by another letter using a fixed positional rule. A common rule is the alphabet-complement rule, where a letter at position n (A = 1, ..., Z = 26) is replaced by the letter at position (27 − n); equivalently, A pairs with Z, B pairs with Y, C pairs with X, and so on up to M pairs with N. Because 27 − (27 − n) = n, this rule is reciprocal (self-inverse) — the same operation that encodes a letter also decodes it.

Application

Test the rule against the given pair CABLE → XZYOV using alphabet positions:

1. C (position 3) pairs with X (position 24), since 3 + 24 = 27.

2. A (position 1) pairs with Z (position 26), since 1 + 26 = 27.

3. B (position 2) pairs with Y (position 25), since 2 + 25 = 27.

4. L (position 12) pairs with O (position 15), since 12 + 15 = 27.

5. E (position 5) pairs with V (position 22), since 5 + 22 = 27.

All five letter pairs satisfy n + code = 27, confirming the complement rule. Apply the same rule, letter by letter, to decode YZXP:

1. Y (position 25) → position 27 − 25 = 2 → B

2. Z (position 26) → position 27 − 26 = 1 → A

3. X (position 24) → position 27 − 24 = 3 → C

4. P (position 16) → position 27 − 16 = 11 → K

Reading the decoded letters in order gives B, A, C, K — the word BACK.

Cross-check

Re-encode BACK using the same rule to confirm consistency: B(2)→Y(25), A(1)→Z(26), C(3)→X(24), K(11)→P(16), which reproduces YZXP exactly — verifying the decode.