If "A" denotes "added to", "B" denotes "divided by", "C" denotes "multiplied by" and "D" denotes "subtracted" (used as the ordinary minus sign), then what is the value of 154 B 11 C 6 A 6 D 27 when evaluated with normal precedence rules?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: 63

Explanation:


Introduction:
This question is another example of coded arithmetic operations where letters represent standard mathematical operators. Our task is to decode the expression 154 B 11 C 6 A 6 D 27, convert it into a usual arithmetic expression, and then evaluate it while respecting operation precedence. These types of questions check understanding of operator mapping and consistent application of arithmetic rules.


Given Data / Assumptions:
We are told that A means "added to", B means "divided by", C means "multiplied by", and D means "subtracted". The coded expression given is 154 B 11 C 6 A 6 D 27. We assume that division and multiplication are evaluated before addition and subtraction according to standard precedence, and that D functions as the ordinary minus sign between numbers in the sequence.


Concept / Approach:
The basic idea is to first translate every coded symbol into its corresponding arithmetic operator. Once this is done, we apply the standard BODMAS or PEMDAS rules to compute the result. The key is not to treat the letters as variables but as placeholders for operations, and then to be meticulous with the order of evaluation.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Replace each coded letter: B is division, C is multiplication, A is addition, and D is subtraction.Step 2: The expression 154 B 11 C 6 A 6 D 27 becomes 154 / 11 * 6 + 6 - 27.Step 3: Apply precedence rules. First handle division and multiplication from left to right. Compute 154 / 11. Since 11 * 14 = 154, we get 154 / 11 = 14.Step 4: Next, multiply 14 by 6 to get 14 * 6 = 84.Step 5: The expression now simplifies to 84 + 6 - 27.Step 6: Perform the addition and subtraction from left to right. First, 84 + 6 = 90.Step 7: Then subtract 27 from 90, giving 90 - 27 = 63.Step 8: Therefore, the final value of the expression is 63.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can quickly recompute to verify: 154 divided by 11 is 14, 14 times 6 is 84, 84 plus 6 is 90, and 90 minus 27 is 63. There are no ambiguous brackets or alternative interpretations when D is treated as a straightforward minus sign, so the calculation is stable.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The value 60 might result from an incorrect subtraction such as 90 minus 30 instead of 27. The value 33 could come from misplacing the operations or subtracting both 6 and 27 from 84 before adding. The value 64 would occur if someone mistakenly added 27 instead of subtracting it. The option 69 does not correspond to any consistent misapplication of precedence in this setting.


Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to evaluate strictly from left to right and perform 154 / 11, then immediately add 6 without doing the multiplication first. Another pitfall is misreading the mapping and swapping the roles of A, B, C, and D. Writing out the fully translated expression before computing helps avoid these mistakes.


Final Answer:
The value of the coded expression is 63.

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