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13-Letter Key (Posted on 2013-05-16) Difficulty: 3 of 5
A simple replacement code can be created by using a 13-letter phrase with no repeated letters, such as the following:

PUBLICSERVANT
DFGHJKMOQWXYZ

The letters below the 13-letter phrase are the other 13 letters of the alphabet, in alphabetic order.

Any given message can be encoded or decoded by finding each given letter among the 26 on the chart, and replacing it with the letter above or below it.

A different 13-letter phrase has been used in forming the key to encyphering a sentence, below. Again, of course that key phrase has no repeating letters.

The message:

THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG

is, in this code:

PQS HGCIJ LXMZF NMR KGOTE MDSX PQS BYWA VMU

As was to be expected the replacements are mutual: for example, N codes F and F codes N.

What was the 13-letter phrase used in forming the key to this code?


From the 2013 Mensa 365 Brain Puzzlers for 2013 calendar, puzzle for May 1, by Mark Danna and Fraser Simpson, Workman Publishing, New York, NY.

See The Solution Submitted by Charlie    
Rating: 4.4000 (5 votes)

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
Slightly different phrase | Comment 7 of 8 |

I had not looked at the answer as I found the following phrase, which is not really a meaningful phrase but curiously the second phrase does come out alphabetical:

SNUCK BOTH DRAW
EFG I J LMPQ  VXYZ.

(but I think LUCKOFTHEDRAW is a better solution).


  Posted by Larry on 2013-10-06 10:48:25
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