Rubik's cube talk

[frugalnacho]

I had a cube when I was younger (age 12?), but I had no idea how to solve it.  I was vaguely aware it could be solved in layers, but I had no idea how.  I worked for months on it slowly solving layers and working my way up.  The first layer was pretty easy, the second was a little harder, but the last layer really seemed to stump me for a long time.  I was always careful about how I turned it so I could reverse my turns if I messed something up, but I didn't record it, and many times when I finally got the next piece in place it was because I tried 100 different things over the course of a week, and I had no idea how to replicate it, but I was only concerned with solving it just to say I did it.  Finally after working for several months on a single solve, I managed to get it solved.  I was hesitant to scramble it because I had no idea how I had actually solved it, so another solve would have likely taken months - if I could even repeat it. I put it down after that and never really went back to it.  In retrospect I should have been more methodical so I could have repeated my moves, and it would have given me a deeper understanding of the movements.

Then I broke my wrist in 2016 (age 33), and when I got my cast off I purchased an off brand rubik's cube to help regain some movement and dexterity.  I memorized the 5 algorithms needed for the beginner's method, then practiced it over and over until they were muscle memory.  I practiced until I could consistently solve it in under 2 minutes.  I stop playing for a few months, then go back to it, then stop again, etc.  I think I'm limited in how fast I can solve using the beginner's method though, so I'm looking into the Fridrich method.  Hopefully learning a faster method will keep me engaged with it and I can improve my solve time. 

Anyone into the rubik's cube?  What is your solve time?  What method(s) do you use? Did you start with the beginner's method or jump straight into a more advanced method?  In either case, how long did it take you to master the more advanced method?

[Luke Warm]

i had one when i was in 8th grade maybe? it took me a while to solve it but i finally figured out the patterns. i never tried to time myself though. my friend just disassembled his and put it back together finished. i just watched a video the other day about solving the cube and it brought back those memories.  i doubt i would have the ability to sit and figure it out again. i bet that is good therapy for a damaged brain as well.

[PoutineLover]

I never figured it out myself, but someone taught me a method and I practiced a bunch until I could solve it pretty quickly. Haven't done it in a while, but I bet I still have the muscle memory in my hands

[talltexan]

I'm so glad someone started this thread!

[Davnasty]

i had one when i was in 8th grade maybe? it took me a while to solve it but i finally figured out the patterns. i never tried to time myself though. my friend just disassembled his and put it back together finished. i just watched a video the other day about solving the cube and it brought back those memories.  i doubt i would have the ability to sit and figure it out again. i bet that is good therapy for a damaged brain as well.

That was my method too. I have no idea how to solve the puzzle, but at least I know how the mechanics work.

[Norioch]

Of course you can always just look online for the step-by-step solution to solving a Rubik's cube, but there's a better way to *find* solutions to the Rubik's Cube. This is a general technique which can be used to find solutions to other twisty puzzles similar to the Rubik's cube. It's basically this:

1) Figure out how to solve just one layer, from any starting state. Get comfortable doing this. It's not that hard, right?

2) Solve the top layer.

3) Pick some small thing you want to change about that top layer, e.g. flip one of the edge pieces or swap two of the corners or something similar. Some small change that will only modify one or two of the cubes in the top layer.

4) Now, using you solve-one-layer skills, re-solve the top layer to apply the small change you picked in step 3. This is very important: as you are doing this, WRITE DOWN EVERY STEP.

5) Rotate the now modified top layer 90 degrees or 180 degrees (your choice).

6) Do all of the steps you down wrote in step 4 in reverse. This will re-apply the small change to the top layer, but now in reverse, and to different cubes that are either 90 or 180 degrees offset from the cubes you modified previously. If you do this correctly, it will ALSO restore the entire rest of the cube (everything but the top layer) to the exact state it was in before step 4.

7) Undo the rotation you did in step 5.

What's the point of all this? The point is that you've now figured out an exact sequence of steps (and written them down) that made some small change to the top layer AND ONLY THE TOP LAYER. E.g., using this method you can figure out the steps to flip two of the edge pieces or rotate two of the corners or cycle three of the corners or something like that.

These are the basic building blocks of a full solution. When you know an exact sequence of steps that lets you swap or rotate just two pieces, then you can apply that sequence over and over again to various pairs of pieces to eventually solve the entire cube.

The solutions you find this way will NOT be optimal. In fact they'll likely be very slow. They won't help you win any speed cubing competitions. But the method works, and it feels satsifying knowing you found the solution on your own instead of memorizing a list of rotations you read online.

[Jon_Snow]

My DW is an absolute ace with the thing. Me, no interest, as at any given moment I can think of a litany things I’d rather be doing. 😁

[Financial.Velociraptor]

I got in the Houston Chronicle in 2nd grade because I could routinely solve in under 2 minutes.  I used the layer method. 

I was never able to solve Rubik's Revenge (4x4 cube) with the same method.  Getting the 4 piece "centers" all solved at the same time is enormously challenging.

[lost_in_the_endless_aisle]

I got in the Houston Chronicle in 2nd grade because I could routinely solve in under 2 minutes.  I used the layer method. 

I was never able to solve Rubik's Revenge (4x4 cube) with the same method.  Getting the 4 piece "centers" all solved at the same time is enormously challenging.

I don't play with the cubes (I can barely tie my shoes) but Mathologer has an interesting video on 4-dimensional cubes and how to solve them (based on the comments, a lot of people had good results after watching).

[driftwood]

I got in the Houston Chronicle in 2nd grade because I could routinely solve in under 2 minutes.  I used the layer method. 

I was never able to solve Rubik's Revenge (4x4 cube) with the same method.  Getting the 4 piece "centers" all solved at the same time is enormously challenging.

I don't play with the cubes (I can barely tie my shoes) but Mathologer has an interesting video on 4-dimensional cubes and how to solve them (based on the comments, a lot of people had good results after watching).

What is the 4th dimension of these cubes?  Or did you mean 4x4?

[lost_in_the_endless_aisle]

I got in the Houston Chronicle in 2nd grade because I could routinely solve in under 2 minutes.  I used the layer method. 

I was never able to solve Rubik's Revenge (4x4 cube) with the same method.  Getting the 4 piece "centers" all solved at the same time is enormously challenging.

I don't play with the cubes (I can barely tie my shoes) but Mathologer has an interesting video on 4-dimensional cubes and how to solve them (based on the comments, a lot of people had good results after watching).

What is the 4th dimension of these cubes?  Or did you mean 4x4?

3x3x3x3

[Financial.Velociraptor]

I got in the Houston Chronicle in 2nd grade because I could routinely solve in under 2 minutes.  I used the layer method. 

I was never able to solve Rubik's Revenge (4x4 cube) with the same method.  Getting the 4 piece "centers" all solved at the same time is enormously challenging.

I don't play with the cubes (I can barely tie my shoes) but Mathologer has an interesting video on 4-dimensional cubes and how to solve them (based on the comments, a lot of people had good results after watching).

What is the 4th dimension of these cubes?  Or did you mean 4x4?

Each side had 16 tiles (4x4) instead of 9 (3x3)

[simonsez]

Ever heard of the juggling method? haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Qbwz0Uik8

Kid is able to juggle and solve 3 Rubik's cubes in a little over 5 min.

[talltexan]

I got in the Houston Chronicle in 2nd grade because I could routinely solve in under 2 minutes.  I used the layer method. 

I was never able to solve Rubik's Revenge (4x4 cube) with the same method.  Getting the 4 piece "centers" all solved at the same time is enormously challenging.

I don't play with the cubes (I can barely tie my shoes) but Mathologer has an interesting video on 4-dimensional cubes and how to solve them (based on the comments, a lot of people had good results after watching).

What is the 4th dimension of these cubes?  Or did you mean 4x4?

Each side had 16 tiles (4x4) instead of 9 (3x3)

Once you've mastered 3, the resources on the internet exist to up your game to 4. In addition to getting those centers--I recommend doing it first--and aligning the interior edge pieces, you also need a "parity move" that will have the appearance of swapping to "edge" pairs.

[Sugaree]

There's a way to solve it that's basically just memorizing the specific order of moves.  My best time is about 3 minutes though.  It's funny you bring that up because a recent job applicant listed the ability to solve one on his resume as proof that he could solve complex problems or something.  It did not help him.

[frugalnacho]

There's a way to solve it that's basically just memorizing the specific order of moves.  My best time is about 3 minutes though.  It's funny you bring that up because a recent job applicant listed the ability to solve one on his resume as proof that he could solve complex problems or something.  It did not help him.

It does seem super impressive to anyone that has never solved it.  Once you know how to solve it it seems way less impressive.  I did joke with my friends that being able to juggle and solve 3 cubes simultaneously would be a skill to put on a resume, even if it has nothing to do with the job (how could it possibly have anything to do with the actual job?).  I would be impressed with anyone that could accomplish that, and I would think that while it in no way it would directly translate into competency on the job, it would be a good litmus test that the person is focussed and capable and may be good choice as a candidate. 

[talltexan]

I would list "Rubik's cube" under "hobbies".

[Blueberries]

I learned how to solve it by watching videos and memorizing the algorithms.  I've gotten lucky and have solved it fairly quickly, but I have never spent enough time learning speed cubing to get really fast.  I lost a bit of interest once I learned how to solve it relatively quickly.

[MissNancyPryor]

I need to dig mine out of the basement I see.  I kept it from the 80's and this thread makes me want to give it a go.  I wonder though if looking at YouTube will ruin it for me.  I have not put my engineer's brain to it and have not touched it in 35 years other than moving it with me to 4 houses now :)   I wonder if I can do it.     

I love mechanical puzzles --  trying to undo the bent nails and such.  I got that wine-bottle-in-a-puzzle gift last year from a Secret Santa at work and am always drawn to these sorts of brain teasers. 

On that note, 2 weeks ago I played Myst again for the first time in years.  It was fun to try to remember how all the gadgets worked and I was happy that I had forgotten enough to make it worthwhile.  I am amazed that I could blow off a day doing something so self indulgent.  FIRE rocks.   

[Steeze]

I have a couple speed cubes I bought from thecubicle.com, bought the ones that set the world record at the time. When I was into it I was at the 30 second range. Been a while, would take me a few minutes to figure it out now.

Memorize all the beginners method variations, then all the first two layer at once solutions, then work on the third layer variations. If you can recognize shortcuts then you can get below 30 seconds consistently.

Memorizing a single beginners method will get you below a minute pretty easy if you don’t make any mistakes, can be learned in an afternoon. Getting to 10-15 seconds takes a ton of study and practice.

[OurTown]

I had the little book "The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube."  I memorized the process and I could get it done in a reasonable time, probably not 3 minutes like some here.  This would have been late elementary school, maybe 6th grade.

BTW, speaking from experience, this was not an effective method to impress cute girls.

[talltexan]

I've actually started leaving cubes lieing around my house in scrambled state. Then, when a visitor solves the cube, I know they're in my tribe, and I can enjoy sharing cube experiences with him/her, but the regular people aren't intimidated.

I was with my dad over Thanksgiving, who is the family expert. He's successfully solved the 4- and 5-level cubes, and has been a serious badass, even working through his own solution in the early 1980's. He's faster than I am, but wouldn't be competitive compared to the serious speed-cubers who are posting here.

[frugalnacho]

....  I think I'm limited in how fast I can solve using the beginner's method though, so I'm looking into the Fridrich method.  Hopefully learning a faster method will keep me engaged with it and I can improve my solve time. 

So the Fridrich method basically has 4 steps.  1. Solve the white cross, 2. solve the first 2 layers, 3. orient the last layer, 4. permute the last layer.

The first 2 steps are done intuitively.  There is no list of algorithms to learn, you just have to be familiar enough with the cube to intuitively solve it.  I can't do this yet.

Originally I would solve the cross one piece at a time.  I'd locate an edge piece I want to move, then I'd focus on moving it.  Then after it's in place I would pick the next color, and move it into place, etc, until it was complete.  I've started practicing solving the cross by figuring out all the moves in advance so I can do it blindfolded.  I scramble the cube, then try to mentally track the placement and orientation of each edge piece as I go through the moves in my head.  Once I think I've figured it out I write the steps down.  These steps are unique for each scramble so there is no set of algorithms, but writing it out helps me keep track of it and back track in case I mess up to see where my misstep was.  I seem to be able to solve it (the white cross I mean) within 5-7 moves each time fairly consistently, although I feel like I am taking way too long to think through the steps (I'm spending upwards of 2 minutes to look at the cube and think through my moves just to solve the cross).  My hope is that if I keep practicing this it will become more intuitive, and my speed will increase dramatically until eventually I can just whip the white cross out without actively thinking.  Right now I can't just whip the cross out, and it takes far longer for me to think through the moves than it does to just solve it and reevaluate after each turn, but I think it's already helping me visual the cube better.  My overall time is down to 1:30, which is the biggest improvement I'd made in well over a year. 

I am going to keep actively practicing solving the cross by this method until I can do it fairly quickly from a fresh scramble.  Then I will move on to focussing on solving the first 2 layers with the same approach.  I am hopeful that I will eventually be able to look at a scrambled cube, and map out all the moves needed to completely solve the first 2 layers without having to reevaluate.  Once I reach that step I'm hopeful that I can solve the last 2 steps using the remaining (4) algorithms I already know and it will just be a matter of being able to mentally track where the remaining pieces end up to apply each subsequent algorithm.  E.g. I'll know the final orientation of each yellow edge piece before I solve the first 2 layers, and I'll know I need to apply the yellow cross algorithm X times, then the edge permutation algorithm X number of times, then the corner permutation algorithm x number of times, then the corner orientation algorithm to each corner x number of times. 

That might be getting a little ahead of myself right now, but I would be pretty badass to be able to solve a cube completely blindfolded.

[talltexan]

I asked around at the national championships, and your approach to the blindfold isn't the easiest way to get you there.

Focus on learning the y-permutation (for corners) and the t-, Ja- and Jb- permutations (for edges). Along with setup moves, these will allow you to make arbitrary swaps of pairs of these pieces. It will be more total moves than your method, but once you have the memorization rock solid, it will be a lot easier to simply memorize about 21 steps for a solve.

[frugalnacho]

I asked around at the national championships, and your approach to the blindfold isn't the easiest way to get you there.

Focus on learning the y-permutation (for corners) and the t-, Ja- and Jb- permutations (for edges). Along with setup moves, these will allow you to make arbitrary swaps of pairs of these pieces. It will be more total moves than your method, but once you have the memorization rock solid, it will be a lot easier to simply memorize about 21 steps for a solve.

My main goal wasn't to be able to do it blindfolded, I'm just trying to train myself to be able to visual all the moves within the first 2 steps of fridrich method so I can do it intuitively, and I thought maybe I could eventually visualize it well enough to do the entire thing blindfolded. The devil is always in the details and I'm sure I'll have to modify my approach, or adopt a completely new approach to be able to solve it blindfolded.  Time will tell, but for now I'm going to focus on be able to solve the white cross faster and by planning all the moves in advance.

[talltexan]

I asked around at the national championships, ...

I feel compelled to add: I am not a competitor in these championships, not even close ;-)

But it sure is amazing to watch these guys, particularly to be in the room during the multiple blindfolded event.

And some of them are so nice to take the time to talk to casual cubers...

[stashing_it]

I was into the Rubik's cube 10-12 years ago or so.   First started with the basic method,  and then a more advanced method off of the internet.    I think I got down to around ~45 seconds before I stopped.

I doubt I could solve it now without re-looking up the moves.