North Carolina Science Olympiad — Code Busters
2016-2017
Names of participants: (Please print neatly)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
School Name: ______________________________________________________
School ID Number: __________________________________________________
Warning: Do not open this packet until given permission to do so.
Note : there are useful notes on the back of this page
Scoring:
Time to solve first problem in seconds: _________________________________
Question
Timed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Total
Bonus
Final Score
Value
100
100
140
250
300
100
60
160
180
250
100
180
100
125
50
100
400
250
400
Incorrect letters
Score
The following tables might be useful during the event.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
0
A
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
B
1
B
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
C
2
C
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
D
3
D
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
E
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
F
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
G
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
H
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
E
4
F
5
G
6
H
7
I
8
I
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
L
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
M
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
N
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
O
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
P
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
Q
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
S
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
T
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
U
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
V
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
W
W
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
X
X
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Y
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Z
Z
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Frequency Table of English letters:
E
T
A
O
I
N
12.51%
9.25%
8.04%
7.60%
7.26%
7.09%
S
R
H
L
D
6.54%
6.12%
5.49%
4.14%
3.99%
C
U
M
F
P
3.06%
2.71%
2.53%
2.30%
2.00%
G
W
Y
B
V
1.96%
1.92%
1.73%
1.54%
0.99%
K
X
J
Q
Z
0.67%
0.19%
0.16%
0.11%
0.09%
M 3.08%
P 2.89%
B 1.49%
H 1.18%
Q 1.11%
Y
V
G
F
J
1.09%
1.05%
1.00%
0.69%
0.52%
Z
Ñ
X
K
W
0.47%
0.17%
0.14%
0.11%
0.04%
Frequency Table of Spanish letters:
E
A
O
S
N
R
14.08%
12.16%
9.20%
7.20%
6.83%
6.41%
I
L
D
T
U
C
5.98%
5.24%
4.67%
4.60%
4.69%
3.87%
For the purposes of cryptograms it is customary to treat n and ñ as distinct letters, but a and á are the same
letter. Likewise for e and é, and i and í. In other words, all the accent marks get amputated when working
with cryptograms. Also, while some older Spanish dictionaries consider ch, ll, and rr, to be their own
letters—this has fallen out of modern usage. Accordingly, “burro” is considered as five letters: “b-u-r-r-o” and
not as four letters “b-u-rr-o.”
Timed question [100 Points]: Solve this Cryptogram which is a quote by Marianne Williamson. When you
have solved it, raise your hand so that the time can be recorded and the solution checked.
QINT WT ZJNW UNWKINL KUZHZKWE PWLL HINUN ZL TR
LHRFFZTV HIN LIZYH ZHL FUNLNTKN QZEE ZTJXKN.
A
Freq
B
C
D
E
F
3
3
G
H
I
J
K
L
M N
6
5
2
5
8
11
O
P
Q
R
1
2
2
S
T
U
V W X
Y
6
4
1
1 9
5
1
Z
1) [100 Points] Solve this Cryptogram which is a quote by Glenn Doman who's name appears in the
cryptogram and the word THE appears multiple times.
VMQ MDZBA OLBNA NE DANIDQ NA VMBV NV NE VMQ TAUJ
XTAVBNAQL TW YMNXM NV XBA OQ EBNK VMBV VMQ ZTLQ JTD
SDV NAVT NV, VMQ ZTLQ NV YNUU MTUK. --RUQAA KTZBA.
A
B
C
Freq 12 8
D
E
F
G H
5 3
I
J
K
L
M N O
P
1 2 3 4 10 14 2
Q R
S
T
U
V W X
Y
Z
10 1 1 9 5 15 1 3 2 4
2) [140 Points] Solve this Cryptogram which is a quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt who is known for his public
discourse.
O AXSJOCGD OZ I TRQHOA CRZU ZX ISJMGD KIHJOKOAIZOXSJ
MOZP KIAZJ. O MOHH SXZ TDGZGSC ZPIZ O KOSC ZPOJ IS
RSTHGIJISZ CRZU. O IV IS XHC AIVTIOESGD, ISC O HXYG
I EXXC KOEPZ.
A
Freq 5
B
C
D
E
8 4 3
F
G H
I
J
K
7 7 15 7 5
L
M N O
3
P
Q R
S
T
U
V W X
17 4 1 4 12 4 2 2
Y
Z
8 1 14
3) [250 Points] Solve this Cryptogram which is sage advice by Robert H. Schuller.
ABKBH GVW O WHBB FYRA EA WJB REAWBHWESB.
ABKBH
SOCB O ABIOWEKB FBGEDEYA EA WJB QYR WESB.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G H
I
J
K
L
Freq 8 15 1 1 8 2 2 4 1 2 3
M N O
P
4
Q R
S
T
U
1 3 3
V W X
Y
1 8
3
Z
4) [300 Points] Solve this Cryptogram from an unattributed source.
VQJF, REV LXA J "DAVL LJFGWCA" VC GF UWJSKAF PEWPQ?
A
Freq 4
B
C
D
E
F
G H
2 1 2 4 2
I
J
K
L
4 1 3
M N O
P
Q R
S
2 2 1 1
T
U
V W X
1 4 3 1
Y
Z
5) [100 Points] Encode the string SCIENCEOLYMPIAD using the Affine Cipher with a=3 and b=17.
Answer: ____________________________________________
6) [60 Points] You know that a message has been encrypted using the Affine Cipher with an alphabet of 26
characters. You have discovered that the message GLIID decodes to say HELLO. What are the values of a and
b in the function ax + b that were used to encode the message?
a=___________ b= ___________
7) [160 Points] Another message encrypted with the Affine Cipher using an alphabet of 26 characters has been
intercepted. You have been told that the last two characters of the message are the letters CE. With that
knowledge, what does this message say?
KILJFLFLWEGLIKJMDWXL
Answer: ____________________________________________
8) [180 Points] Solve this cipher which talks about inherited wisdom. The first word is BY and the last word is
WRONG.
JAHOF
HPTFD
TDGEF
DSPBF
IHODH
TDAJF
OPIMD
IWDSS
AODID
IUGYO
UHOPG
RIOFP
IYEUG
N
J
M N O
P
A
B
Freq 3 1
C
D
E
F
G H
I
10 4 8 4 7 8 2
K
L
1 2 10 6
Q R
HOFEY
S
T
DIEPN
U
1 3 3 3
OHOFW
V W X
Y
2
3
Z
9) [250 Points] Solve this Spanish Cryptogram about a naked foot.
FD
NJE,
YOH
OD
UJO
NOWDFNK.
A
B
Freq 1 1
MOHME
SE
C
NO
EHODE
D
E
SEW
NO
F
G H
9 15 3
10
NKMO,
SE
I
TO
USEBE
J
K
7 7
L
WKHUHODNJK
SE
OAXHEKHNJDEHJETODXO
JTUHOWJKD
M N
Ñ O
3 10
16
P
NOQENE
Q R
S
1
5 3 5
T
U
UKH
FD
V W X
Y
4 2 1
10) [100 Points] You encountered this message from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on the wall. What does it say?
dOnoTtoucHthEdrYpainT
Answer: ____________________________________________
Z
11) [180 Points] A sign by a herb garden outside the school curiously has the following written on it. What
does it say?
lbXyvsXvQirpcxwmwImDRdxxCvwtXdve
WlbrLwxsxPcmxd
Answer: ____________________________________________
12) [100 Points] Using a key of ZPLM encode the string CODEBUSTER using the Hill Cipher with a 26
character alphabet. e.g.
 Z P   25 15 

  

 L M   11 12 
C
O
D
E
B
U
S
T
E
R
13) [125 Points] Using a key of RUBBVSZOO encode the string SCIENCEOLYMPIAD using the Hill Cipher
with a 26 character alphabet. e.g.
 R U B   17 20 1 

 

 B V S    1 21 18 
 Z O O   25 14 14 

 

S
C
I
E
N
C
E
O
L
Y
M
P
I
A
D
14) [50 Points] Using a code word of FRIEND, encode the following sentence using the Vigenère cipher.
A CRYPTOGRAM IS A METHOD OF HIDING A MESSAGE IN PLAIN SIGHT
Answer:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
15) [100 Points] An important clue about a treasure has been encoded using the Vigenère cipher using the name
of a famous city. You have been told that the 4th through the 11th letters in the code (BJTAJCJT) actually is
the word TREASURE . What doe the message decode to?
IHVBJ TAJCJ TIJJM GIVLM CDVZL WESQY VRRVA IEIWU ZWZBZ IHVTW ITVZQ
Answer:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
16) [400 Points] Solve this Patristrocrat.
SVUVW
VRTNB
XMUEI
UYIHC
TFLBO
RIXHB
OOVNM
UUMUI
YLOII
IMKLY
TSMRR
MVUFV
WMIXL
BEICI
IUXVR
H
J
M N O
P
A
Freq
B
C
4 2
D
E
F
2 2
G H
I
3 13
K
L
1 5 8 2 5
Q R
S
T
YIIUY
U
V W X
LMOYT
Y
5 2 4 9 7 2 4 6
Z
17) [250 Points] Solve this Patristrocrat containing a quote by Les Brown. In it, you will find the words WILL
and YOU at least twice each.
NEGUP
RBIYV
BIIQB
AYNEG
JFEPB
XBAYH
EGTXY
SYFYE
FIYCY
YIHER
CEUXJ
ZIYJU
EGTWN
EG
J
M N O
P
A
B
C
D
Freq 2 6 2
E
F
G H
I
K
L
9 3 5 3 8 6
Q R
TJTHY
S
T
XOJXV
U
BIIRJ
V W X
Y
Z
3 1 2 1 3 1 4 3 2 1 5 11 1
18) [400 Points] Someone was quickly typing down this quote from Mary Field Belenky and misspelled a few
words before encrypting it. What does it say?
MBXTTJ TVGCIVIZ XIN GSGOBINVIZ YIB'G YKI FSZLBIC VG IBUBGXMJ VI
YMNBM CY SINBMGCXIN YCDBM OBBOTB YI CDBVM YKI CBMLG... CDVG VG
X OMYUBGG CDXC MBWSVMBG CMSGC XIN HSVTNG CMSGC
A
Freq
B
C
D
17 14 4
E
F
G H
I
J
K
L
M N O
1 16 1 15 2 2 2 13 7 4
P
Q R
S
T
U
V W X
Y
Z
7 5 2 10 1 7 8 3