Rubik's Cube
 | |
| Other names | Magic Cube, Speed Cube, Puzzle Cube, Cube |
|---|---|
| Type | Combination puzzle |
| Inventor(s) | Ernő Rubik |
| Company | Rubik's Brand Ltd (Spin Master)[1] |
| Country | Hungary |
| Availability | 1977: as Hungarian Magic Cube, first test batches released in Budapest As Rubik's Cube, worldwide, 1980–present |
| Official website | |
The Rubik's Cube is a three-dimensional puzzle cube as well as the world's best-selling toy of all time, with over 300 million sold.[source?][when?] It was invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.[source?]
In a classic Rubik's Cube, each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers. Each sticker is of one of six solid colours: white, red, blue, orange, green, or yellow. In currently sold models, white is opposite yellow, blue is opposite green, orange is opposite red, and some might replace blue with black or purple. The goal of the puzzle is to make all 6 faces have the same color.
Types of Cubes
[change | change source]The standard Rubik's Cube is 3x3x3 (3 blocks across, 3 blocks down, and 3 blocks deep). Cubes can be made in 2x2, 4x4, or larger versions. As of 2017[update] the largest cube is 33 x 33, which is also 3D printed.[2]
Another type of Rubik's Cube is shaped like a cuboid: a cube with uneven sides. These come in sizes including 3x2x2, 3x5, and 4x3. Some cuboids can shapeshift or jumble. That means the cube goes out of its original shape. To solve a shapeshifting cube it must return to the original shape before it is considered solved.
Other versions include the Megaminx, Pyraminx, Rubik's clock, Mirror Cube, and Square 1.
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Structure
[change | change source]
A Rubik's Cube is a cube split into a number of smaller cubes with different colored faces attached to a rotating piece of metal in the middle. In total, there are 26 small cubes. The Rubik's Cube has six sides with 9 little cubes attached to each side. Each side is one of six colors. Red, yellow, blue, orange, white and green are the most common colors.
The cubes can be rotated and twisted along rows and faces. The aim of the puzzle is to make each face of the cube have the same color.
Methods
[change | change source]Solving a Rubik's Cube requires logic and thinking. There are many methods of solving the puzzle.
The simplest one is known as the Beginner's Method. In this method, first the white cross is solved. Then the white layer is solved, followed by the middle layer. Finally, the yellow cross is solved, then the yellow corners.[3]
Today the most common[source?]method is called CFOP, also called the Fridrich Method, named after the popularized Jessica Fridrich. It starts with the white cross, then F2L (First 2 Layers), followed by OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer), and PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer). Other methods also include Petrus, ZZ, Roux, and others.
Records
[change | change source]The world record for fastest single solve was set on June 11th, 2023 by Max Park at 3.13 seconds. The world record for an average of 5 solves was set by Yiheng Wang on September 21st, 2024 at 4.09 seconds.[4]
According to Guinness World Records, the fastest time a robot has solved a Rubik's Cube is 0.637 seconds. This was done by the robot "Sub1 Reloaded", created by Albert Beer.[5] However, a faster time of 0.38 seconds was claimed by a robot built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[6]
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ Evans, Pete (27 October 2020). "Canadian company that owns classic toys Etch A Sketch and Aerobie buys Rubik's Cube for $50M". CBC News.
- ↑ "33x33x33 rubik's cube - World Record". Ruwix. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ↑ RBL_solve_guide_CUBE_US_5.375x8.375in_AW_27Feb2020_VISUAL.pdf (rubiks.com)
- ↑ "Records | World Cube Association". www.worldcubeassociation.org. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
- ↑ "Fastest robot to solve a puzzle cube". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
- ↑ Specktor, Brandon (2018-03-16). "Watch a Robot Solve a Rubik's Cube in 0.38 Seconds". livescience.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
Other websites
[change | change source]
- Rubik's cube World Record by Patrick Ponce
- The Rubik's Cube's solver application
- The Rubik's Cube's solution guide[permanent dead link]
- The Rubik's Cube's wiki Archived 2019-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
- Simple solving manual Archived 2010-12-17 at the Wayback Machine
- The Rubik's Cube's official website