POOPLE ANSWERS

PUZZLE #0

PICK to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
PICK
START
01
HICK
LETTER 1
02
HOCK
LETTER 2
03
HOOK
LETTER 3
04
HOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

PICK and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first letter changes more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: PICK โ†’ HICK. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. PICK โ†’ HICK: change letter 1 from P to H.
  2. HICK โ†’ HOCK: change letter 2 from I to O.
  3. HOCK โ†’ HOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
  4. HOOK โ†’ HOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
  5. HOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.