POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 9, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #56

SALT to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
SALT
START
01
HALT
LETTER 1
02
HOLT
LETTER 2
03
HOOT
LETTER 3
04
HOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

SALT and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the first letter changes more than once.

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

Every letter change

  1. SALT โ†’ HALT: change letter 1 from S to H.
  2. HALT โ†’ HOLT: change letter 2 from A to O.
  3. HOLT โ†’ HOOT: change letter 3 from L to O.
  4. HOOT โ†’ HOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
  5. HOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.