POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 10, 2025 · PUZZLE #57

AREA to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
AREA
START
01
ARIA
LETTER 3
02
ARID
LETTER 4
03
GRID
LETTER 1
04
GRAD
LETTER 3
05
GOAD
LETTER 2
06
GOOD
LETTER 3
07
GOOP
LETTER 4
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

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

Start by changing the third letter: AREA → ARIA. Near the goal, GOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. AREA → ARIA: change letter 3 from E to I.
  2. ARIA → ARID: change letter 4 from A to D.
  3. ARID → GRID: change letter 1 from A to G.
  4. GRID → GRAD: change letter 3 from I to A.
  5. GRAD → GOAD: change letter 2 from R to O.
  6. GOAD → GOOD: change letter 3 from A to O.
  7. GOOD → GOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
  8. GOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from G to P.
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