POOPLE ANSWERS

DECEMBER 19, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #127

PEAK to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
PEAK
START
01
PEAT
LETTER 4
02
PLAT
LETTER 2
03
PLAP
LETTER 4
04
PLOP
LETTER 3
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

PEAK and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the second and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the fourth letter: PEAK โ†’ PEAT. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.

Every letter change

  1. PEAK โ†’ PEAT: change letter 4 from K to T.
  2. PEAT โ†’ PLAT: change letter 2 from E to L.
  3. PLAT โ†’ PLAP: change letter 4 from T to P.
  4. PLAP โ†’ PLOP: change letter 3 from A to O.
  5. PLOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.