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Forensic Science
Shodor > SUCCEED > Curriculum > Workshops > Forensic Science

Introduction to Caesar Ciphers

Have the class use a multiplication shift in their cipher by multiplying a constant to each letter's numeric value. For an example, let's have a constant of 5. In this case, C=2. Multiply 5 by that, to get 10. Convert that back to a letter, 10=K.

Remember when we added constants in the previous section? You go through the same process, but with multiplication: Let's take G=6. Multiply by our constant of 5 and we get 30.

You can just keep going around the alphabet wheel. So G would end up being E.

With a constant of 5, the message "I really like code messages" is encoded to be the following:

		O HUADDQ DOYU KSPU IUMMAEUM.
		

For the Caesar Cipher, we will be using a combination of the multiplication shift and the addition shift.

This can be done using the equation of a linear function: y=mx + b

The m value is the multiplication shift and the b value is the addition shift.

Encourage discussion on how to tackle the deciphering:

  • What can you tell about this note just by looking at it?
  • How does that help?
  • Are there any patterns that stick out?
  • What about one letter words?