POOPLE ANSWERS

NOVEMBER 6, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #84

PEAR to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
PEAR
START
01
BEAR
LETTER 1
02
BOAR
LETTER 2
03
BOOR
LETTER 3
04
BOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

PEAR and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first letter changes more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: PEAR โ†’ BEAR. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. PEAR โ†’ BEAR: change letter 1 from P to B.
  2. BEAR โ†’ BOAR: change letter 2 from E to O.
  3. BOAR โ†’ BOOR: change letter 3 from A to O.
  4. BOOR โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from R to P.
  5. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.