Kate spilled black ink on her white dress.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a word transformation challenge where participants attempt to convert the word "black" into "white" by changing one letter at a time, ensuring each intermediate step is a valid English word. The challenge includes exploring different pathways and the number of steps taken to achieve the transformation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Greg Bernhardt suggests a pathway from "black" to "white" through "brick" and provides a sequence of valid words.
  • Another participant proposes a similar sequence starting with "black" and including "plack" as a valid word before reaching "white."
  • One participant presents a different sequence that includes "clack" and questions if it results in fewer steps.
  • Another sequence is provided that transitions through "brack," which leads to a discussion about the validity of "brack" as a word.
  • Concerns are raised about the existence of "brack" in dictionaries, with some participants questioning its validity compared to "brak."
  • Several participants share their sequences, with varying numbers of steps and different words used at each stage.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the validity of certain words like "brack" and "plack," leading to ongoing debate about the pathways and the legitimacy of the transformations proposed.

Contextual Notes

Some words mentioned, such as "brack" and "plack," depend on specific dictionary definitions, which may vary among sources. The discussion reflects differing interpretations of valid English words and their usage in the context of the challenge.

Greg Bernhardt
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Kate spilled black ink on her white dress. Can you turn black into white by changing one letter at a time? Each step must create a valid word in the English language. Kate made the change in 8 steps. Can you do as well ... or better?
 
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Originally posted by Greg Bernhardt
Kate spilled black ink on her white dress. Can you turn black into white by changing one letter at a time? Each step must create a valid word in the English language. Kate made the change in 8 steps. Can you do as well ... or better?

I see how to get from Brick to White
so if anyone can get from Black to Brick, then we are done

BRICK
TRICK
THICK
THINK
THINE
WHINE
WHITE
 
maybe

BLACK
PLACK
PRICK
BRICK

and from there on it is done
 
Yes
the Webster's Third New International Dictionary
that happens to be here does in fact
have PLACK as an English word
so that does work
 


BLACK
PLACK
PRICK
BRICK
TRICK
THICK
THINK
THINE
WHINE
WHITE
 


BLACK
CLACK
CLICK
CHICK
THICK
THINK
THINE
WHINE
WHITE

fewer steps?
also clack is a dictionary word
meaning chatter, among other things
 
Seven:

BLACK
BLICK
BRICK
BRICE
BRITE
WRITE
WHITE
 
Anybody have a dictionary file (.txt please)
Brute force attack, anyone?
 
I have seven not counting "BLACK" since that is the start point.

0 BLACK
1 BRACK
2 BRICK
3 BRINK
4 BRINE
5 BRITE
6 WRITE
7 WHITE
 
  • #10
Here is one with seven transitions
that uses valid English words
(from the fat Webster's, which
doesnt allow BRITE as an alt.
spelling of bright)

0.BLACK
1.BRACK
2.BRICK
3.TRICK
4.TRICE
5.TRITE
6.WRITE
7.WHITE


according to Webster's
brack is salty or alkaline water
I guess that is where the adjective "brackish"
comes from
 
  • #11
Did you actually see BRACK in a dictionary, or is that just a bluff? It's not in any dictionary I can find (although I haven't looked in the HUGE Webster's yet).

Are you sure you didn't see "brak", which I find referenced several places as a Dutch word meaning salty and given as the derivation of the English "brackish".
 
  • #12
clack
click
chick
thick
think
thine
whine
white
 
  • #13
dduardo gets the point! yes brackish is a word, never heard of just brack used before though
 

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