Oh. bobf was right (smelling like homework).

Do us a favor. If you're looking for pointers for homework, let us know that. Heck, if you're looking for answers for homework, let us know that, too. You're less likely to get answers either way. I appreciate that you state you're looking for pointers and not answers. But let us know that up front.

s**lil*;  $*=join'',sort split q**;  s;.*;grr; &&s+(.(.)).+$2$1+; $; =
qq-$_-;s,.*,ahc,;$,.=chop for split q,,,reverse;print for($,,$;,$*,$/)
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