Reverse Cipher

The Reverse Cipher (also known as the backwards cipher) is a simple transposition cipher where the order of letters in the word is reversed. For example, 'HELLO' becomes 'OLLEH'. This cipher is often combined with other ciphers in competitive exam problems.

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200+Practice Questions
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Introduction to Reverse Cipher

The Reverse Cipher (also known as the backwards cipher) is a simple transposition cipher where the order of letters in the word is reversed. For example, 'HELLO' becomes 'OLLEH'. This cipher is often combined with other ciphers in competitive exam problems.

Prerequisites

Understanding of word reversal Basic string manipulation Letter order recognition
Why This Matters: Reverse Cipher problems appear in 1-2 questions in SSC CGL and Banking PO exams. They test basic string reversal concepts.

How to Solve Reverse Cipher Problems

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Step 1: Write the given word clearly

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Step 2: Reverse the order of letters (first becomes last, last becomes first)

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Step 3: The reversed string is the encoded or decoded word

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Step 4: Since reversal is its own inverse, the same process decodes

Pro Strategy: Simply write the word backwards. The reverse cipher is self-inverse, so encoding and decoding use the same operation.

Example Problem

Example: Decode 'OLLEH' using reverse cipher. Solution: Step 1: Given word: O L L E H Step 2: Reverse order: H E L L O Step 3: Decoded word: HELLO Answer: HELLO

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • Reverse cipher is also called the 'backwards cipher' or 'mirror order cipher'
  • It is often combined with other ciphers in multi-step problems
  • Palindromes (words that read the same forward and backward) remain unchanged
  • Examples of palindromes: 'MADAM', 'RACECAR', 'LEVEL', 'CIVIC'
  • Common encoded words: 'OLLEH' (HELLO), 'DLROW' (WORLD), 'EPYTHON' (NOHTYPE)
  • The reversal operation is its own inverse (involution)

Shortcut Methods to Solve Faster

Decoded word = reverse of encoded word
Encoded word = reverse of original word
For any string S, reverse(reverse(S)) = S

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Reversing the order of words in a sentence instead of letters
Forgetting to reverse the entire string (keeping spaces in place)
Confusing reverse cipher with Atbash cipher (letter mirroring)
Not handling palindromes correctly (they are valid but unchanged)

Exam Importance

Reverse Cipher is an important topic for various competitive exams. Here's how frequently it appears:

SSC CGL
1-2 questions
BANKING PO
1-2 questions
RAILWAYS RRB
1-2 questions
CAT
0-1 questions
INSURANCE
1-2 questions

Ready to Master Reverse Cipher?

Start with Worksheet 1 and work your way up to expert level! Each worksheet includes:

20 practice questions
Detailed solutions
Step-by-step explanations
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