In a certain coded arithmetic language, the letters represent operations as follows: "S" denotes multiplied by, "V" denotes subtracted from, "M" denotes added to and "L" denotes divided by. Using this code, what is the value of 5 V 9 M 63 L 9 S 7 ?

Introduction / Context:
Here, each letter stands for a basic arithmetic operator. Instead of the usual symbols +, -, x and ÷, the problem uses S, V, M and L. We must translate the coded expression 5 V 9 M 63 L 9 S 7 into an ordinary arithmetic expression and then evaluate it. Questions like this test careful reading of symbol definitions and precise use of operator precedence, since multiplication and division still take priority after substitution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• S denotes multiplied by (×).
• V denotes subtracted from (used here as the minus operation).
• M denotes added to (+).
• L denotes divided by (÷).
• Expression to evaluate: 5 V 9 M 63 L 9 S 7.
• After substitution, normal arithmetic precedence (× and ÷ before + and -) is applied.

Concept / Approach:
The solution method is to perform a two stage process. First, substitute each coded letter by its true arithmetic operation to obtain a standard numerical expression. Second, carefully evaluate that expression by performing multiplication and division first, then addition and subtraction from left to right. It is important not to be distracted by the phrase subtracted from in natural language and to treat V consistently as the subtraction operator between the adjacent numbers in the given coded format.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Rewrite the coded expression with real operators. V is subtraction, M is addition, L is division and S is multiplication. Step 2: Therefore, 5 V 9 M 63 L 9 S 7 becomes 5 - 9 + 63 ÷ 9 × 7. Step 3: Apply precedence by handling division and multiplication first. Compute 63 ÷ 9 = 7. Step 4: Then multiply 7 × 7 = 49. Step 5: Substitute these results back: the expression simplifies to 5 - 9 + 49. Step 6: Now evaluate from left to right: 5 - 9 = -4. Step 7: Then -4 + 49 = 45. Step 8: Hence the value of 5 V 9 M 63 L 9 S 7 is 45.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can bracket the expression after substitution: (5 - 9) + (63 ÷ 9 × 7). This makes it clear that all operations in the second bracket are evaluated before adding to the first bracket. Recomputing 63 ÷ 9 × 7 as 7 × 7 = 49 and then adding -4 confirms the final result 45. No alternative reading of the symbol meanings is consistent with the definitions given, so the answer is robust.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 50 could arise if someone mistakenly treated 5 V 9 as 9 - 5 and then mismanaged the subsequent operations. Option 40 and option 35 usually come from doing the operations strictly from left to right without respecting the precedence of division and multiplication. Option 30 might reflect an arithmetic slip in the final addition step. None of these match the correct, carefully evaluated result of 45.

Common Pitfalls:
A major source of error in this type of question is forgetting the order of operations and calculating 5 - 9 + 63 ÷ 9 × 7 sequentially from left to right. Another common pitfall is misinterpreting subtracted from as reversing the order of numbers in every context rather than simply reading it as subtraction between the given terms in this compact symbolic form. Writing the fully substituted expression and then methodically applying precedence rules helps avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
After decoding the operators and evaluating correctly, the value of the expression is 45.