Poople #417 answer and hints: PAIR to POOP
Start with a clue for this puzzle, or reveal the full answer below.
Hints for Poople #417
Open one clue at a time. Reveal the full route only when you want the answer.
01How many steps?
02Which letter changes first?
03What is the first word?
04Show the complete answer
- 0PAIRstart
- 1PAILletter 4 changes
- 2PALLletter 3 changes
- 3POLLletter 2 changes
- 4POOLletter 3 changes
- 5POOPletter 4 changes
How PAIR gets to POOP
The starting word is PAIR. A shortest route needs 5 one-letter changes. There is one shortest route in our word list.
See the route, one change at a timeFull answer
- 1PAIR → PAILChange letter 4 from R to L.
- 2PAIL → PALLChange letter 3 from I to L.
- 3PALL → POLLChange letter 2 from A to O.
- 4POLL → POOLChange letter 3 from L to O.
- 5POOL → POOPChange letter 4 from L to P.
The first move matters
There are 6 accepted words one letter away from PAIR. 1 brings you a step closer to POOP. The other 5 are detours.
A valid word can still make the ladder longer. For a shortest solve, choose a move that leaves 4 steps to the goal.
Reveal first moves and detoursSpoiler
One step closer: PAIL.
Detours: FAIR, HAIR, LAIR, PAID, PAIN. These words are accepted, but do not reduce the remaining distance.
How hard is this puzzle?
Its 5 moves compare with a 5.6-move average over the last 31 published puzzles.
Of the other 30 puzzles: 0 shorter, 18 the same length, 12 longer.