This is another variation of the classic problem of changing one word into another. Instead of changing one word into another one letter at a time for each step, this variation alternates each step by anagramming one word into another.
For example: CAT to DOG can occur as such:
CAT
ACT (anagram)
ANT (letter change)
TAN (anagram)
TON (letter change)
NOT (anagram)
NOD (letter change)
DON (anagram)
DOG (letter change)
Either the letter change or the anagram may occur first, but must then alternate.
I offer four challenges. In the fewest steps,
1) transform EARTH to WATER,
2) convert WIND to FIRE,
3) cross from RIVER to SHORE, and
4) transmute LEAD to GOLD.
Well here's what I got, no program used
