Deciphering/Decryption

The process of converting from cipher text to plain text is called deciphering.
The following example will explain the procedure for deciphering.
3 3
Example 6. Decipher the Cipher text = MOFZ for Key matrix = [ ].
2 5
Solution: Recall the formula which we used for enciphering
C = KP (mod 26)
Formula for deciphering
P = 𝐾 −1 𝐶(mod 26)
𝐴𝑑𝑗(𝐾)
𝐾 −1 = (mod 26)
det(𝐾)

Thus each plain text vector can be recovered from ciphertext vector by multiplying
it on the left by 𝐾 −1 (mod 26).
Step 1 First find 𝐾 −1 , so
3 3
det(K) = |𝐾| = | | = 15 − 6 = 9
2 5
5 −3
[ ] 5 −3
−1 −2 3
𝐾 = = 9−1 [ ]
9 −2 3
What is the inverse of 9 modulo 26? Let it be x, then 9x = 1(mod 26)

9.1 = 9 ≠ 1(mod26)

9.2 = 18 ≠ 1(mod26)

9.3 = 27 = 1(mod26)

Hence, 9−1 = 3 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 26)

Therefore,
5 −3 5 −3 15 −9 15 17
𝐾 −1 = 9−1 [ ] = 3[ ]=[ ]=[ ] (𝑚𝑜𝑑26)
−2 3 −2 3 −6 9 20 9
Step 2 Now, we will decipher MO first, then we will decipher FZ. For this we take
𝑀 13
C=[ ]=[ ]
𝑂 15
15 17 13 450 8
P = 𝐾 −1 𝐶(mod 26) = [ ][ ] = [ ](mod 26) =[ ]
20 9 15 395 5
 𝐻
Alphabets equivalent of the vector is [ ]
𝐸
𝐹 6
For FZ, C= [ ]= [ ]
𝑍 0
15 17 6 90 12
and P = 𝐾 −1 𝐶(mod 26)= [ ][ ] = [ ] (𝑚𝑜𝑑 26) = [ ]
20 9 0 120 16
𝐿
Alphabets equivalent of the vector is [ ]
𝑃
So all plain text is HELP.
Example 7. Decode the following Hill 2-cipher, which was enciphered by the
5 6
matrix 𝐾 = [ ]
2 3
GTNKGKDUSK
Solution: We first find the inverse of K (mod 26) as
3 −6 3 −6
𝐾 −1 = 3−1 [ ] = 9[ ]
−2 5 −2 5
27 −54 (𝑚𝑜𝑑26) 1 24
=[ ] =[ ]
−18 45 8 19
Next we write numerical equivalent of cipher text, which is

Which yields the message STRIKE NOW

Example 8 Decode the Hill 3-cipher XCVAFA which was enciphered by the
matrix key
1 2 0
𝐾 = [ 0 1 2]
0 1 1
Solution:
First we have to calculate the inverse of K
1 2 0 1 0 0
[0 1 2 0 1 0 ]
0 1 1 0 0 1
.
.
.
Work to do
Question 1. Determine whether the matrix is invertible modulo 26. If so, find its
inverse modulo 26 and check your work by
𝐴𝐴−1 = 𝐴−1 𝐴 = 𝐼(𝑚𝑜𝑑 26)
9 1 1 8 2 1
a) A= [ ] b) B=[ ] c) A= [ ]
7 2 1 3 1 7

Question 2.
4 1
Decode the following Hill 2-cipher which was enciphered by the matrix [ ]
3 2
SAKNOXAOJX
Question 3.
Decode the Hill 3-cipher LQVGKE which was enciphered by the matrix key
1 2 4
𝐾 = [0 −1 2 ]
0 1 −1
Important Note: