POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 27, 2025 · PUZZLE #74

ACID to POOP.

One shortest route in 7 moves.

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

Why this route takes 7 moves

ACID and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 3 additional moves; the first and second and third letters change more than once.

Start by changing the second letter: ACID → ARID. Near the goal, GOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

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