In a coded arithmetic expression, S denotes multiplied by, V denotes subtracted by, M denotes added to and L denotes divided by. Using these meanings and normal precedence, what is the value of 96 L 12 S 7 V 49 M 10 ?

Introduction / Context:
Here again, letters are used in place of arithmetic symbols. You must interpret L, S, V and M as basic arithmetic operations, decode the entire expression 96 L 12 S 7 V 49 M 10 and then evaluate it. This checks both your ability to translate code correctly and your care in applying operator precedence in a multistep numerical expression.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• S denotes multiplied by, so A S B means A * B.
• V denotes subtracted by, so A V B is treated as A - B in this question.
• M denotes added to, so A M B means A + B.
• L denotes divided by, so A L B means A / B.
• Expression: 96 L 12 S 7 V 49 M 10.
• Normal arithmetic precedence remains in force: division and multiplication first, then addition and subtraction from left to right.

Concept / Approach:
The first step is to rewrite the coded expression with standard mathematical operators. Once decoded, the structure becomes a simple combination of division, multiplication, subtraction and addition. Since there are several operations, strict attention to the order in which they are carried out is crucial. Evaluating division and multiplication before handling subtraction and addition ensures that the result is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Start with 96 L 12 S 7 V 49 M 10. Step 2: Replace L with /, S with *, V with - and M with +. Step 3: The decoded expression is 96 / 12 * 7 - 49 + 10. Step 4: Evaluate division and multiplication from left to right. 96 / 12 = 8. 8 * 7 = 56. Step 5: Now the expression reduces to 56 - 49 + 10. Step 6: Perform subtraction and addition from left to right. 56 - 49 = 7. 7 + 10 = 17.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recompute 96 / 12 as 8 and confirm that 8 * 7 is indeed 56. Then check that 56 - 49 simplifies to 7 and finally that adding 10 gives 17. If you mistakenly change the order and compute 12 * 7 first or combine 49 + 10 before performing the earlier operations, you will obtain a different result. Because the correctly decoded and ordered calculation gives 17, and this matches exactly one of the options, the answer is reliable.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options 18, 20, 21 and 23 can arise from common missteps, such as treating V as 49 - 56 instead of 56 - 49, or adding 10 at the wrong stage. Some candidates also incorrectly evaluate 96 / (12 * 7) or modify precedence rules, which again leads to incorrect totals. Since only 17 satisfies the expression under the specified coding and standard rules, the other values cannot be accepted.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical pitfall is forgetting that division and multiplication have equal precedence and must be done from left to right. Another pitfall is mentally rewriting the expression in a different order that looks simpler but no longer corresponds to the given structure. Writing each intermediate step explicitly on paper helps reduce arithmetic errors, especially when both negative and positive operations are involved.

Final Answer:
Using the given coded operations, the value of 96 L 12 S 7 V 49 M 10 is 17.