If in a certain code language A denotes added to, B denotes divided by, C denotes multiplied by and D denotes subtracted from, then what is the value of 87 B 3 C 4 A 4 D 50?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: 70

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question again uses letter codes for the basic arithmetic operations. Once the mapping is understood, we must rewrite the expression in standard mathematical form and then compute its value. These questions cement the habit of carefully decoding symbolic instructions before performing any operations.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A means added to.
  • B means divided by.
  • C means multiplied by.
  • D means subtracted from.
  • Expression: 87 B 3 C 4 A 4 D 50.
  • Standard operator precedence applies after decoding.


Concept / Approach:
The plan is to substitute each letter with its corresponding operation. B becomes division, C becomes multiplication, A becomes addition, and D becomes subtraction. After replacement, we must be careful about the structure of the expression and the precedence of multiplication and division over addition and subtraction. Computing in a clean, stepwise way lets us avoid careless mistakes.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Replace B with division, C with multiplication, A with addition, and D with subtraction.Step 2: The coded expression 87 B 3 C 4 A 4 D 50 becomes 87 ÷ 3 × 4 + 4 − 50.Step 3: Evaluate division and multiplication first. Compute 87 ÷ 3 = 29.Step 4: Multiply 29 × 4 = 116.Step 5: Substitute this back to get 116 + 4 − 50.Step 6: Perform the addition: 116 + 4 = 120.Step 7: Finally, subtract 50 to obtain 120 − 50 = 70.


Verification / Alternative check:
The calculation is short enough to verify quickly. If we recompute 87 divided by 3 as 29 and multiply by 4 we still get 116. Adding 4 gives 120 and subtracting 50 yields 70. Any other result would reflect either a misinterpretation of the code or an arithmetic error. Therefore 70 is a consistent and correct final answer.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The option 65 would be obtained if someone subtracts 55 instead of 50 in the last step. The value 75 could appear if one misreads the final operation or adds 5 instead of subtracting. The answer 80 might result from stopping after 120 minus 40 instead of 50. The distractor 60 comes from an incorrect value for 87 divided by 3, such as 28 instead of 29. None of these align with correct decoding and careful calculation.



Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is to misinterpret D as meaning 50 minus the preceding expression rather than the preceding expression minus 50. Another error is to perform the addition before multiplication and division, which changes the value of the intermediate results. Writing the decoded expression clearly with proper grouping ensures that each step is executed in the correct order.



Final Answer:
After decoding the letter symbols and computing carefully, the value of 87 B 3 C 4 A 4 D 50 is 70.


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