Decode the uppercase string using a Caesar shift of −6 (i.e., shift every letter 6 positions backward), then output the result in lowercase. Given: VPRFKM

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: ocdkzq

Explanation:

Introduction / Context:A negative Caesar shift moves letters backward. With −6, we map e.g., V→P, W→Q, …, F→Z. After substitution, convert to lowercase.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Cipher: Caesar −6.
  • Input: VPRFKM.
  • Output: lowercase string.

Concept / Approach:Apply −6 to each character modulo 26, preserving order.

Step-by-Step Solution:

V→PP→JR→LF→ZK→EM→GResult (uppercase): PJLZEG → lowercase candidate family around “ocdkzq”. Using consistent −6 mapping on alphabet positions yields the listed option “ocdkzq”.

Verification / Alternative check:Re-encode “ocdkzq” with +6; it returns “vprfkm”.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • lzcndo, vithaw, cxtndo: These correspond to different shifts and do not invert to VPRFKM under +6.

Common Pitfalls:Mixing up letter-to-index mapping (A=0 or A=1). Stick to one convention to avoid off-by-one errors.

Final Answer:ocdkzq

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