POOPLE ANSWERS

JUNE 9, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #299

APPS to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
APPS
START
01
APES
LETTER 3
02
APED
LETTER 4
03
SPED
LETTER 1
04
SLED
LETTER 2
05
PLED
LETTER 1
06
PLOD
LETTER 3
07
PLOP
LETTER 4
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

APPS and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 4 additional moves; the first and second and third and fourth letters change more than once.

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

Every letter change

  1. APPS โ†’ APES: change letter 3 from P to E.
  2. APES โ†’ APED: change letter 4 from S to D.
  3. APED โ†’ SPED: change letter 1 from A to S.
  4. SPED โ†’ SLED: change letter 2 from P to L.
  5. SLED โ†’ PLED: change letter 1 from S to P.
  6. PLED โ†’ PLOD: change letter 3 from E to O.
  7. PLOD โ†’ PLOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
  8. PLOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.