Poll: Can you solve a Rubik's cube?

[axlryder]

So, I had a friend over today to play some vidya games. Certainly not a remarkable occurrence, but then she noticed the Rubik's cube I've had sitting on my desk the past few years. I'd never bothered with it (I honestly don't know where it came from), but she proceeded to pick it up and solve it in a minute or so. Ashamed that I, the owner of the cube, didn't even know how to solve it, I took it upon myself to learn how. Anyway, I solved it with some minor difficulties, but it got me wondering just how many people know how to solve the blasted thing. I'd figure this site would likely have more individuals who are capable of it than the average sampling of people, but it's still worth asking.

So, can you solve a Rubik's cube?

edit: the poll was supposed to have 4x4x4, 5x5x5 and 6x6x6 options, but I accidentally posted too early. I think they'll show up later though. Yes would indicate you can at least solve the standard 3x3x3 cube.

 

[JaceArveduin]

Nope, don't have the patience for them.

 

[axlryder]

Nope, rarely ever play with one.

The thing is there is clearly a technique behind it if you can see people do baskets of them blindfolded.

there's no real secret technique that I'm aware of. They might just memorize the initial positions of the pieces and do the rest in their head. That or they're wizards.

 

[Dragonclaw]

There's a pretty easy pattern that will take you through every possible combination. I used to know it...for a while I collected Rubik's puzzles, I have the standard 3x3, the 4x4 and the 5x5 on each side as well as the Megaminx...a 12 sided Rubik's Cube style puzzle...I have yet to solve that one.

 

[Ruedyn]

I've only ever solved one. The rest are either broken, or thrown at friends and never seen again.

 

[Goofguy]

I haven't tried to solve one in several years but even then, I couldn't do it. I doubt I could do it now.

And then, there's this guy:

 

[DarkRyter]

Nope, rarely ever play with one.

The thing is there is clearly a technique behind it if you can see people do baskets of them blindfolded.

The basic technique involves the use of algorithms. Algorithms are a sequence of cube movements to change the positioning of the cube.

"To rotate a corner piece without disrupting previously solved corner piece, move X face clockwise, move y face counterclockwise, etc"

It's not too difficult once you understand the proper algorithms. The puzzle supplies starting points, as the center pieces are unable to be moved from their positions.

On higher levels of puzzle solving, they either memorize many, many significantly more specific (and more efficient) algorithms, or they work through it intuitively, calculating the most efficient algorithms on the fly.

 

[axlryder]

Does pulling all the stickers off and putting them back on again count as "solving"?

Only if no one sees you do it.

 

[soren7550]

I think I only played with a real Rubiks Cube twice, and it wasn't for a long period of time because they weren't mine.

My younger brother had one once, but he (like he has done for many possessions, both his and not his) smashed it.

 

[Keoul]

I can totally solve one!
[sub]with a walkthrough... [/sub]
Without one though... eh I could probably get halfway, I forget all the weird algorithms needed to solve one.

 

[Deadyawn]

No. I can't really be bothered learning how to do them properly. I waste my time with other stuff.

Although I know like 3 or 4 people who have memorised all the algorithms and are able to complete them startlingly quickly. It'd be impressive if it wasn't so...trivial, I geuss. But yeah, I can't do it so who am I to judge, right?

 

[Shinsei-J]

I've only finished the 3x3, due to only having seen a 3x3.
Though I've probably forgotten all there is to know.

 

[Sexy Devil]

Yeah I can do a 3x3x3 one. One day a few years ago I got sick of looking at the screwed up cube on my shelf so I memorised a bunch of algorithms to fix it and never forgot them.

 

[Twilight_guy]

No. It's mostly because its not a useful skill. I can look up the algorithm to solve a rubik's cube at any time. Its reinventing the wheel at this pint.

 

[BreakfastMan]

Not really. Never bothered to learn the formulas and such to solving the things. Does not seem like a very good use of my time.

 

[GundamSentinel]

Yeah, I can solve a 3x3x3 one in under a minute. The algorithms are so ingrained in my mind that I don't really have to think about it anymore. I usually have one with me for when I'm bored. I solved one once while riding a bike.

 

[DanielBrown]

No, I've never tried for more than a few minutes once or twice. Got a really short attention span and I'm not exactly a patient guy - so it's not my thing.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

Does pulling all the stickers off and putting them back on again count as "solving"?

That's pretty muchy answer as well.

 

[Llil]

I can solve a 3x3x3 one. But I can also solve one that doesn't have symmetrical middle pieces. That makes it a bit more difficult because you have to make sure the middle parts are the right way too. It doesn't add a whole lot of difficulty, but still.

Spoiler: For example, my cube looks like this. You can see how the middle pieces need to be in a specific way.

For example, my cube looks like this. You can see how the middle pieces need to be in a specific way.

Does pulling all the stickers off and putting them back on again count as "solving"?

You don't have to move the stickers. If you twist the top row 45°, you can pull one of the edge parts off and then take apart the whole cube. Then you can just put it back together in the right order. This way you won't ruin the stickers.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I've made a few honest tries to solve Rubiks Cubes a few times over the years and have never once been able to solve the freaking thing.