How many such pairs of distinct letters are there in the word 'CHANNEL', which have as many letters between them in the word as in the English alphabet?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 2
Two letters form such a pair when their gap in the word equals their gap in the alphabet. Each letter is numbered by its place in the alphabet and every pair is compared, in either direction:
CHANNEL: C (3), H (8), A (1), N (14), N (14), E (5), L (12)
C and A: 2 places apart in the word (H between them), and 3 − 1 \(=2\) in the alphabet (B between them), a pair
N and L (the second N): 2 places apart in the word (E between them), and 14 − 12 \(=2\) in the alphabet (M between them), a pair
No other two distinct letters have equal gaps; the two N’s are the same letter and do not count