In a certain code language, the five letter word PRIME is written as VNRIK. Observing how the positions of the letters change from PRIME to VNRIK, the first and fifth letters are shifted forward by six positions in the alphabet, the second and fourth letters are shifted backward by four positions, and the middle letter is shifted forward by nine positions. Using the same pattern of shifts, how will the word MICRO be written in this code language?

Introduction / Context:
This question involves a letter shifting code applied position wise to a five letter word. The example given shows how PRIME is coded as VNRIK. We are expected to identify the numerical shift applied to each letter position, and then apply the same pattern to the new word MICRO. Such problems test how well you can analyze alphabet positions and detect non uniform, position based transformations rather than a simple uniform shift for all letters.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Original word: PRIME. • Coded form: VNRIK. • Target word to code: MICRO. • Alphabet positions: A = 1, B = 2, …, Z = 26. • The same pattern of shifts must be applied position by position.

Concept / Approach:
We first convert letters of both PRIME and VNRIK into their alphabet positions. Then we calculate the difference between the coded letter and the original letter at each position. This produces a pattern of offsets for positions 1 to 5. Once the offset pattern is known, we apply it to the letters of MICRO, again using alphabet positions and wrapping forward within A to Z if needed. The resulting letters give the coded form of MICRO.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Write the positions for PRIME: P = 16, R = 18, I = 9, M = 13, E = 5. Step 2: Write the positions for VNRIK: V = 22, N = 14, R = 18, I = 9, K = 11. Step 3: Find differences for each position: position 1, 16 to 22 is +6; position 2, 18 to 14 is -4; position 3, 9 to 18 is +9; position 4, 13 to 9 is -4; position 5, 5 to 11 is +6. Step 4: So the pattern of shifts is: +6, -4, +9, -4, +6 for positions 1 to 5. Step 5: Now apply this to MICRO. Positions: M = 13, I = 9, C = 3, R = 18, O = 15. Step 6: Position 1: 13 + 6 = 19, which is S. Step 7: Position 2: 9 - 4 = 5, which is E. Step 8: Position 3: 3 + 9 = 12, which is L. Step 9: Position 4: 18 - 4 = 14, which is N. Step 10: Position 5: 15 + 6 = 21, which is U. Step 11: Combining these letters gives SELNU as the code for MICRO.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify your method by re applying the pattern to PRIME. Using +6, -4, +9, -4, +6 on P, R, I, M, and E again reproduces V, N, R, I, and K respectively. Since the same transformation that works on PRIME also works consistently for MICRO, the pattern is reliable and the result SELNU is valid. Checking that no other option fits this exact systematic transformation confirms the uniqueness of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option SENLU changes the order of E and L and does not respect the precise numerical shifts. Option SLEUN rearranges internal letters in a way that does not match the derived offset pattern. Option SLNEU puts N and L at incorrect positions relative to the shift sequence. Option SUNEL is more of a random rearrangement and does not come from the consistent +6, -4, +9, -4, +6 rule.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes guess the code for MICRO by visual similarity or by applying a single uniform shift to all letters, which fails here because the shift is position dependent. Another common mistake is to omit the negative shifts or miscalculate large forward shifts like +9. Writing out positions clearly and computing each shift separately prevents such errors.

Final Answer:
Using the same pattern of letter shifts that changes PRIME into VNRIK, the word MICRO is coded as SELNU.