POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 8, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #55

FAVE to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
FAVE
START
01
CAVE
LETTER 1
02
CAME
LETTER 3
03
CAMP
LETTER 4
04
COMP
LETTER 2
05
COOP
LETTER 3
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

FAVE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and third letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: FAVE โ†’ CAVE. Near the goal, COOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. FAVE โ†’ CAVE: change letter 1 from F to C.
  2. CAVE โ†’ CAME: change letter 3 from V to M.
  3. CAME โ†’ CAMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
  4. CAMP โ†’ COMP: change letter 2 from A to O.
  5. COMP โ†’ COOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
  6. COOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from C to P.