Transform a given word to the indicated word in a minimum number of steps by changing precisely one letter in each step:

GRASS to GREEN and, GREEN to GRANT

7 steps for the first using common words:

grass
crass
cress
tress
trees
treed
greed
green
 
grass
grays
greys
treys
trees
treed
greed
green
 
grass
grays
trays
treys
trees
treed
greed
green
 
8 steps for the second using common words:
 
green
greed
breed
bleed
blend
bland
brand
brant
grant
 
green
greed
breed
bleed
blend
bland
brand
grand
grant
 
green
greed
breed
bleed
blend
bland
gland
grand
grant

Using more exotic words 4 or 5 steps are possible for the first ladder (the word grass assumed at the head of each of these):

   brass
   braes
   brees
   grees
   green
------- 5
   grabs
   grubs
   grues
   grees
   green
------- 5
   grays
   greys
   grees
   green
------- 4
   trass
   tress
   trees
   grees
   green
------- 5
   trass
   tress
   trees
   treen
   green
------- 5

and 5 or 6 steps are possible for the second (green assumed at the head of each of these):

grees
brees
braes
brans
brant
grant
------- 6
grees
brees
braes
brans
grans
grant
------- 6
grees
brees
brens
brans
brant
grant
------- 6
grees
brees
brens
brans
grans
grant
------- 6
grees
brees
brens
brent
brant
grant
------- 6
grees
glees
glens
glans
grans
grant
------- 6
grees
greys
grays
grans
grant
------- 5
grees
grues
grubs
grabs
grans
grant
------- 6

Posted by Charlie on 2011-12-21 00:15:33