What is the fewest number of steps (changing one letter at a time, with each step yielding a common English word) that you can change "SOFT" into "HARD" and then "HARD" into "EASY"?
S O F T
. . . .
. . . .
H A R D
. . . .
. . . .
E A S Y
SOFT
----
SORT
FORT
FORE
FARE
HARE
----
HARD
----
HARE
BARE
BASE
EASE
----
EASY
or, if you don't mind slang
SOFT
----
SORT
FORT
FART
HART
----
HARD
----
HARE
BARE
BASE
EASE
----
EASY