POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 1, 2025 · PUZZLE #48

ARCS to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
ARCS
START
01
ARKS
LETTER 3
02
IRKS
LETTER 1
03
IRIS
LETTER 3
04
BRIS
LETTER 1
05
BROS
LETTER 3
06
BOOS
LETTER 2
07
BOOP
LETTER 4
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

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

Start by changing the third letter: ARCS → ARKS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. ARCS → ARKS: change letter 3 from C to K.
  2. ARKS → IRKS: change letter 1 from A to I.
  3. IRKS → IRIS: change letter 3 from K to I.
  4. IRIS → BRIS: change letter 1 from I to B.
  5. BRIS → BROS: change letter 3 from I to O.
  6. BROS → BOOS: change letter 2 from R to O.
  7. BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  8. BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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