Scribd
Upload
4 views

Cryptography_Problem_Set

The document is a problem set for a Grade 6 Math Circles event focused on cryptography, scheduled for February 11-13, 2025. It includes various tasks involving different ciphers such as Atbash, Caesar, Pigpen, and Vigenère, requiring students to encrypt and decrypt messages. Additionally, it presents challenges related to the application of these ciphers and their properties.

Uploaded by

Michael
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views

Cryptography_Problem_Set

The document is a problem set for a Grade 6 Math Circles event focused on cryptography, scheduled for February 11-13, 2025. It includes various tasks involving different ciphers such as Atbash, Caesar, Pigpen, and Vigenère, requiring students to encrypt and decrypt messages. Additionally, it presents challenges related to the application of these ciphers and their properties.

Uploaded by

Michael
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Grade 6 Math Circles

February 11-13, 2025


Cryptography - Problem Set

1. Agent Alice and Agent Bob are sitting on a ṗark bench. Alice puts down her newspaper and
leaves the park. Bob pi̇cks up the ṅewspaper, reads the secret message, stands up, and walks
in the opposite direction. On ḣis way out, he tȯsses the newspaper in a recycling bin, without
a second glance.

Evil̇ Eve was watching this scėne unfold from a distance. When the coast is ċlear, she rummages
through the recycling bi̇n and retrieves the paṗer. She flips througḣ the pages but there is only
yesterday’s news; nothing ėlse is written down on any of the pages. The only thing that Eve
can find are tiny holes on the fṙont page.

Agent Alice and Agent Bob are using a cipher we have not yet discussed. What is the name of
this cipher?

Hint: The answer is hidden in the question!

2. Encrypt and decrypt the following by using the Atbash cipher.

(a) RAINING CATS AND DOGS!


(b) XZMWB XIFHS
(c) Compare and contrast the Atbash and the Caesar cipher.

1
3. Use the Caesar cipher to encrypt or decrypt the following messages using the shift number
provided in parentheses. You can fill out the shift tables provided below to help you.
(a) WILD GOOSE CHASE (7)

plaintext A B C D E F G H I J K L M
ciphertext H
plaintext N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ciphertext
(b) YIXZHQELOK HBV (23)

plaintext A B C D E F G H I J K L M
ciphertext X
plaintext N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ciphertext

4. Recall the Pigpen cipher:

Encrypt and decrypt the following messages using the Pigpen cipher.

(a) TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY


(b) EUCLID

2
5. Use the Vigenère square below to help you encrypt and decrypt the following.

Retrieved from: https://pages.mtu.edu/~shene/NSF-4/Tutorial/VIG/Vig-Base.html

(a) Using the keyword MAGIC, encrypt the message YER A WIZARD, HARRY.
(b) Decrypt the message UI HMGCMHUS ZME VDXPHC using the keyword BUZZ.

6. Consider the Caesar cipher and the following ciphertext: BWQS XCP.
(a) What would happen if we were to apply a shift number of 26 to the ciphertext?
(b) What would happen if we were to apply a shift number of 30 to the ciphertext?
(c) What would happen if we were to apply a shift number of 4 to the ciphertext?
(d) Challenge: What would happen if were to apply a shift number of 1000 to the ciphertext?

7. The message ACE THE DOG LOVES TREATS is encrypted using the Caesar cipher twice. The first
time, a Caesar shift of 5 was used, and the second time, a Caesar shift of 10 was used. What
was the final ciphertext?

8. A message was encoded using two ciphers in sequence: the Atbash cipher, followed by a Caesar
shift of 13. Decode the message: MBEKI EZ QYZJIVBMZJ.

9. A message was encrypted using the Vigenère cipher twice. The first time the keyword POP was
used, and the second time the keyword FISH was used. If the ciphertext after both encryptions
is NDL LBKR EYIRUZEZD, what was the original message in plaintext?

3
10. Challenge: The message ONCE UPON A TIME was encrypted using four different ciphers in the
following order:
• A Caesar shift of 21 was used.
• The Atbash cipher was applied.
• The Vigenère cipher was used with the keyword STORY.
• The Pigpen cipher was applied.
What was the final ciphertext?

11. Decrypt the following ciphers to fill in the crossword puzzle. The keyword and shift number
for the Vigenère and Caesar ciphers is given in parenthesis.

4
12. Challenge: A plaintext was encrypted with a Caesar cipher, resulting in the following:

RCCJ NVCC KYRK VEUJ NVCC

What was the original plaintext?

You might also like