How to solve the
Rubik's Cube
![](https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png)
Content
- History
- 5 Facts
- Basic Knowledge
- Cross
- First Layer
- Second Layer
- Last Layer Cross
- Last Layer Edges
- Last Layer Corners
History
![](http://www.twistypuzzles.com/museum/large/04755-01.jpg)
1976 - Invention by
Erno Rubik
![](http://psmagazin.hu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rubik.jpg)
1980 - Great Popularity
![](http://www.speedcubing.com/ton/images/Rubik%27s%2004%20Ideal%201980%20%20clone%20type%20cube%20Square%20logo%20sticker.jpg)
Revival through the internet
![](http://www.cubezz.com/images/201404/goods_img/4554_P_1398592428514.jpg)
5 facts
1. Possible Positions
43'252'003'274'489'856'000
( ≈43 Quintillion)
2. Optimal Solution
20 Moves
( 35 years of calculation for one processor)
3. World Record
5.25s - Collin Burns '15
What is the world record for the fastest solve?
4. Different Puzzles
![](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0169/0924/products/MoYu_AoFu_black_01_1024x1024.jpg?v=1403841793)
![](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0169/0924/products/MoYu_Lingpo_black_01_1024x1024.jpg?v=1384964636)
![](http://www.championscubestore.com/images/l/201310/13819347170.jpg)
![](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0169/0924/products/Moyu_Aochuang_black_01_1024x1024.jpg?v=1410144657)
![](http://www.thinkntwist.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x650/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/d/s/dsc08702a.jpg)
![](http://www.jpearly.com/image/cache/data/DayaMegaminx-B1-500x500.jpg)
![](http://cubezz.com/images/201408/goods_img/4613_P_1407683792808.jpg)
![](http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20141021045850/speedsolving/images/6/6c/Square-1.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Rubiks-clock.jpg)
Pyraminx
2x2
4x4
5x5
6x6
7x7
Megaminx
Skewb
Square-1
Rubiks Clock
![](http://cubezz.com/images/201410/goods_img/4625_P_1413527816888.jpg)
5. Different Categories
![](http://cbsy98.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/104021697.jpg?w=594&h=349&crop=1)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Blindfolded_solve_3%C3%973%C3%973_Rubik%27s_Cube_in_49.83.ogv/220px-seek%3D27-Blindfolded_solve_3%C3%973%C3%973_Rubik%27s_Cube_in_49.83.ogv.jpg)
![](http://www.tetovasot.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/rubikon-620x330.jpg)
![](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2yP_KFxIj6I/maxresdefault.jpg)
One-Handed
With Feet
Blindfolded
Multi-Blindfolded
Basic knowledge
![](https://rolandroid.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/cube-perms-u1.jpg)
Components
- Centers
- Edges
- Corners
Methods
- We learn the Beginner Method
- An advancement of the Beginner Method is the Fridrich-Method
- We learn 6 Algorithms in the Beginner Method
- In the Fridrich-Method you learn up to 100 Algorithms
Notation
![](http://adventuresincubing.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/notation.png)
What is the notation?
- Description of a rotation of one side
- Is required to perform algorithms
- Also required to scramble the cube
- The whole solution is based on the notation
basic rules of the Notation
Normal Move
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Gegenuhrzeigersinn.png/220px-Gegenuhrzeigersinn.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Uhrzeigersinn.png)
' Suffix
2 Suffix
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Uhrzeigersinn.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Uhrzeigersinn.png)
Standard-Notation
R
L
U
D
F
B
Standard-Notation
R'
L'
U'
D'
F'
B'
Standard-Notation
x
x'
y
y'
z
z'
Exercises
- R U R' U'
- D L' U F2 B2
- B2 F2 U' L D'
- L2 F2 U' F2 D B2 F2 D2 L
Cross
What is the Cross?
- First step
- The first time, we make it on white
- The Cross-Edges need to be correct on both sides
Procedure
- Search the matching edge
- Turn the edge below the target
- Turn up the Edge
-
If the Edge is twisted incorrectly-> F U' R U'
Example
Scramble: L2 F2 U' F2 D B2 F2 D2 L
The white-orange Edge is already in the top layer -> U
In the bottom layer, there is the White-Green Edge.
This Edge must go below the Green Center -> D2
And has to be turned to the top layer-> F2
In the bottom layer there is the White-Red Edge.
This Edge must go below the Red Center -> D'
And has to be turned to the top layer -> F2
The last Edge (White-Blue) is placed on the red side
This Edge must turned down to the bottom layer -> F
Afterwards the Edge has to go below the blue center-> D
Because we moved the White-Red Edge, it has to go back up again -> F'
And now, the White-Blue Edge can be turned up -> F2
Exercises
- Cross on the Yellow-Side
- Cross on the Red-Side
- etc.
First Layer
What is the First LayeR?
- Whole site correct
- For this step, the Corners need to be inserted
Procedure
- Search the correct Corner
- Turn Edge below its target
- Perform Algorithm -> R' D' R D
-
As long as the Corner is correctly inserted
Exception
Is a corner already in the top layer, you have to perform the Algorithm ( R' D' R D ) once.
Exercises
- Solve five times one side
- The colour is arbitrary
Second Layer
What is the Second Layer?
- Two Layers need to be arranged correctly
- For this step, we need to insert 4 Edges
- Two algorithms are required
- The Cube has to be turned upside-down
Procedure
- Search an edge in the Top Layer
- Turn the Edge to the correct position
- Determine Case
- Perform the according algorithm
Search an edge in the top-layer
We search a non-yellow side in the top-layer
Turn the Edge to the correct Position
- The bottom side of the edges has to match the colour of a center
- Only U-Moves are required
U'
Determine Case and perform algorithm
To the Left
To the Right
U R U' R' U' F' U F
U' L' U L U F U' F'
Learn Algorithms
- Search patterns
- Repeat
(U' L' U L) (U F U' F')
(U R U' R') (U' F' U F)
Exercises
- Memorize the algorithms
- Solve the Second Layer till you feel safe about it
Last Layer Cross
Overview
Only Algorithm for this step
(F R U) (R' U' F')
- Cross on the last layer
- We have to regard the edges only
- There is just one algorithm for this step
Determine Case and perform algorithm
Dot
L-Shape
Line
Alg -> L-Shape
2 times Alg
Alg
(F R U) (R' U' F')
Last Layer edges
Overview
- Orienting the Edges
- We have to regard the edges only
- There is just one algorithm for this step
Only Algorithm for this step
(R U R') U (R U2 R') U
Determine Case and perform algorithm
2 adjacent correct pieces
No adjacent correct pieces
Alg -> 2 adjacent correct pieces
Place the two correct pieces at the back left + Alg
Hint: Sometimes you have to turn the U-Layer a couple of times (maximum 3 times) to see if there are 2 adjacent correct pieces.
lAST LAYER CORNERs
Overview
- After this last step, ther corners will be permutet and orientet correctly.
- We have to regard the cornes only
- 2 Algs are required to perform this step
Required Algorithms
(U R U' L') (U R' U' L)
Corner Permutation Algorithm
Corner Orientation Algorithm
R' D' R D
Corner-Permutation
One correct corner
No correct corner
You have to look around the whole cube to see if there is a correctly placed corner.
Correct corner on the front-right
U R U' L' U R' U' L
U R U' L' U R' U' L
<-- One correct corner
Corner-Orientation
- Get an incorrectly twisted corner to the front-right
- R' D' R D till the corner is twisted correctly
- Repeat till the cube is solved
You Solved the Cube!
Congratulations!
Impressum
![](https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png)
Author: Tobias D. Peter
Licence: CC BY SA -
How to solve the Rubiks Cube
By Tobias Peter
How to solve the Rubiks Cube
This Presentation is an alternative to the video-only or text-only Rubiks Cube tutorials. It may be used as an assistance for a course or for self-study.
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