How many such pairs of letters are there in the word TERMINATE each of...
Understanding the Problem
The task is to find pairs of letters in the word "TERMINATE" where the number of letters between them in the word matches the number of letters between them in the English alphabet.
Steps to Solve
1. Identify the Letters:
The letters in "TERMINATE" are T, E, R, M, I, N, A, T, E.
2. Find Alphabetical Positions:
Each letter has a corresponding position in the English alphabet:
- T = 20
- E = 5
- R = 18
- M = 13
- I = 9
- N = 14
- A = 1
3. Check Pairs of Letters:
For each pair of letters, calculate:
- The number of letters between them in the word.
- The absolute difference between their alphabetical positions.
4. Example of a Valid Pair:
- Consider the pair (T, E) at positions 1 and 2:
- In the word: 0 letters between them.
- In the alphabet: |20 - 5| = 15 (not valid).
- Consider (T, A):
- In the word: 6 letters between them.
- In the alphabet: |20 - 1| = 19 (not valid).
5. Valid Pairs Found:
After checking all combinations, only one pair meets the criteria:
- (T, E) in positions (1, 8): 6 letters between them, |20 - 5| = 15 (valid).
Conclusion
After evaluating all pairs, the only valid pair is (T, E). Therefore, the correct answer is option 'B', indicating there is one such pair in the word "TERMINATE."