Anybody else a (Rubik's) cubist?

[AustinBoston]

I recently solved the 5x5x5 Rubik's Professor cube (twice) so I want to brag.

A few facts:

There are four true Rubik's Cubes:

The Pocket Cube, which is 2x2x2 and has 3,674,160 possible arrangements (starting from a solved cube).  I've never solved one of these because I've never had one.

The original Rubik's Cube, which is 3x3x3 and has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 (43 quintillion) arrangements (starting from a solved cube).  With disassembly, there are 519,024,039,293,878,272,000, (519 quintillion) but only 1/12th are reachable.  If one includes orientation of the center cubes (by putting a logo or mark on each square to indicate the "top," for example), the number is 88,580,102,706,155,225,088,000 (88 sextillion).  Over 300 million copies of the cube have been sold.  I sloved my first Rubik's cube in 1981 or 1982.  It had it's 25th anniversary in July of last year.

The Rubik's Revenge is a 4x4x4 version, came out about 1982 or 1983.  I had one for many years, but until recently, was unable to solve it.  The 4x4x4 cube has a whopping 7,401,196,841,564,901,869,874,093,974,498,574,336,000,000,000 (7.4 quadrillion decillion) possible arrangements - far exceeding the total number of atoms in the universe.  I solved this cube about three weeks ago.

Then there is the Rubik's Professor, a 5x5x5 version.  I started working on this a few days after solving the 4x4x4, and after a few frustrating weeks (and more than one start-over)  :eyecrazy: , I completed the 5x5x5 over the weekend. :-() :-()

The 5x5x5 cube has a wopping 282,870,942,277,741,856,536,180,333,107,150,328,293,127,731,985,672,134,721,536,000,000,000,000,000 arrangements, a number that I won't even try to put into words.

A patent has been obtained for a 6x6x6 cube, but several years later I have never seen it for sale.  The mechanism for the 6x6x6 cube can be extended (and I believe prototypes have been built) going out to at least 11x11x11.  These larger cubes would have very large numbers of moving parts inside, and would be rather delicate.  The 5x5x5 is already much more delicate than the 4x4x4 or 3x3x3, and is not reccomended for speed cubing.

There are many other related puzzles, including the Alexander's Star (based on a dodecahedron) which I have solved.  But I had to brag about that 5x5x5.  

Oh, and I did not disassemble the cubes to solve them; that would be cheating!

Austin

[Calstate361]

CONGRATULATIONS!

 
I think?  :eyecrazy:
 
Joan

[beacher]

Congradulations!

Did you do it with your eyes closed?

A math major once mentioned that the odds of solving it are about the same!

[AustinBoston]

Unless otherwise stated, the following is for the 3x3x3 cube only:

There are a few people, having looked a scrambled cube over, could then solve it blindfolded.  I have a hard enough time when I can see it, so doing it blindfolded baffles me.

It has been mathematically proven that any cube that can be solved, can be solved in 29 moves or less.  There are computer programs that have solved tens of thousands of highly scrambled cubes and never had to take more than 21 moves, but that does not mean there is no combination that requires more.

There are a few people who have averages in the 14-15 move range, but may take many more moves on occasion.

I have never counted, but I think I'm running in the 100-150 move range for the 3x3x3, about 225 for the 4x4x4, and about 450 for the 5x5x5.

Austin

[Jeffrey]

I hate to admit I watched it.....
But last night on Beauty and the Geeks, or whatever it's called

They had a Guy/geek that could do the cube behind the back.
Pretty amazing.

Only time I have ever did one, was years ago, when I just moved the stickers.

[Kelly]

Only time I have ever did one, was years ago, when I just moved the stickers.

LOL ~ why does that not surprise me?!

on a related note ...

[AustinBoston]

Webshots of my (solved) cubes...

http://community.webshots.com/album/544623101FkvbRd

Austin

[Acts 2:38 girl]

Once I turned it a few times, I also moved the stickers!!  
 
...wasn't that how you did those things??.... :rolleyes:

[AustinBoston]

Once I turned it a few times, I also moved the stickers!!  
 
...wasn't that how you did those things??.... :rolleyes:

People have handed me their scrambled cubes to solve.  I alsways ask "Have you ever moved any of the stickers?"

The answer is alway "No."

I have always been able to prove that stickers have been moved fairly quickly.

Austin

[Acts 2:38 girl]

I have always been able to prove that stickers have been moved fairly quickly

How did you do that?  :confused:

[TheViking]

AB, Check this link out.  This guy solves a cube in 13.57 seconds.  Can you do that?  Pretty impressive.  

 
 
http://www.break.com/index/fastrubix.html

[AustinBoston]

The new world's record, which was just recently set, was just over 11 seconds.

For me, it's about 4 minutes.

Austin

[JimQPublic]

The new world's record, which was just recently set, was just over 11 seconds.

For me, it's about 4 minutes.

Austin

I used to be a real geek.  I had a cube in high school (around 1980 or so) and could generally solve it in under a minute.  A few weeks ago I picked up a cube while visiting my brother and had no idea how to solve the thing.

With two pre-school kids, I don't seem to have the time for such pursuits.

Jim

[AustinBoston]

With two pre-school kids, I don't seem to have the time for such pursuits.

Isn't that the truth.  I'm getting back into it because my youngest is now almost 16.  

It doesn't come as easily the second time around, when your brain has been fried by diapers, baby formula, Dr. Seuss, Barney, Thomas the Tank Engine, followed by Mary Kate & Ashley, then Britney Spears and various other mindless drivel for 20 years.

It's no wonder babies spit out babyfood.  Ever taste the stuff?

Austin