Numeric Solution to Rubic's Cube
This solution is NOT meant for speed but is one I can remember longer as it uses #'s and I am a # 's person.
Also, it is important to practice each step over and over and over again before going onto the next step so it builds your confidence and you look forward to learning another step. Again, there are only seven steps and your done so do not be in a hurry.
Also, it is important to practice each step over and over and over again before going onto the next step so it builds your confidence and you look forward to learning another step. Again, there are only seven steps and your done so do not be in a hurry.
Here is the shorten version with explanation below: (W)hite center (U)p steps 1-3 (Y)ellow center (U)p steps 4-7
(F)ront I never used back (R)ight side (L)eft side (T)op (B)ottom
# 1 2 not used 3 4 5 6 (only used on steps 1, 2, 3)
Finally when looking at the top yellow face use this numbering system to rotate whole cube to correct position
1 2 3
4 5 6 Note: 5 is always done as it is the yellow middle one
7 8 9
(F)ront I never used back (R)ight side (L)eft side (T)op (B)ottom
# 1 2 not used 3 4 5 6 (only used on steps 1, 2, 3)
Finally when looking at the top yellow face use this numbering system to rotate whole cube to correct position
1 2 3
4 5 6 Note: 5 is always done as it is the yellow middle one
7 8 9
EXPLANATION OF SOLVING THE RUBIC'S CUBE (More Detailed)
Step 1 The White Cross (get White Edges done)
Vocabulary of pieces: Centers have one color and never move, Edges have two colors, Corners have three colors.
With (WU) or the White center side facing Up (Says the word Rubik's on it)
Look for a white edge on the bottom layer (or get one on bottom layer) and rotate bottom layer until the second color on the piece with the white edge matches the color of the center.
Note: This center color that the second color on this white edge matches becomes the Front of the cube (example: if your edge piece has the two colors white & blue then get this white & blue edge under the face with blue center and this face is the Front of the cube now making the orange center face the right side and the red center face the left side BUT if your edge piece has the two colors white & red then get it under the face with the red center and now this red center face is the front face, making the blue center face the right face and the green center face the left face.)
Two Possibilities Exist: 1 or 2 (F)ront side or 1 turned clockwise F' or 1' is front turned counterclockwise.
1). If White is on the bottom and middle color & second color are adjacent on the front. JUST spin the front twice.
F F or F' F' or 1 1 or 1' 1' are all the ways to describe this move
2). If the white is in front and the second color is on the bottom: B R F' R' or 63 (13)' note (13)' means 1' 3'
B or 6 then R or 3 then F' or 1' then R' or 3' if original center needs to be put back in place.
Of course if there is no white edges on the bottom you need to get them there without messing up the top edges you have already done so often you need to replace the white edges done when getting a white edge on the bottom layer by turning the bottom layer either way then turn the white edge back where it originally was.
Vocabulary of pieces: Centers have one color and never move, Edges have two colors, Corners have three colors.
With (WU) or the White center side facing Up (Says the word Rubik's on it)
Look for a white edge on the bottom layer (or get one on bottom layer) and rotate bottom layer until the second color on the piece with the white edge matches the color of the center.
Note: This center color that the second color on this white edge matches becomes the Front of the cube (example: if your edge piece has the two colors white & blue then get this white & blue edge under the face with blue center and this face is the Front of the cube now making the orange center face the right side and the red center face the left side BUT if your edge piece has the two colors white & red then get it under the face with the red center and now this red center face is the front face, making the blue center face the right face and the green center face the left face.)
Two Possibilities Exist: 1 or 2 (F)ront side or 1 turned clockwise F' or 1' is front turned counterclockwise.
1). If White is on the bottom and middle color & second color are adjacent on the front. JUST spin the front twice.
F F or F' F' or 1 1 or 1' 1' are all the ways to describe this move
2). If the white is in front and the second color is on the bottom: B R F' R' or 63 (13)' note (13)' means 1' 3'
B or 6 then R or 3 then F' or 1' then R' or 3' if original center needs to be put back in place.
Of course if there is no white edges on the bottom you need to get them there without messing up the top edges you have already done so often you need to replace the white edges done when getting a white edge on the bottom layer by turning the bottom layer either way then turn the white edge back where it originally was.
Step 2 Finish the white top layer. Complete the white corners.
Remember not to mess up Step 1 by always returning the white edges to their proper place.
Now get a white corner on the bottom layer (your right side of bottom layer) with the two other colors matching the colors in the centers OR maybe a better way to put it is to get the corner you need on the top layer to be just beneath it on the bottom layer holding the cube so that bottom corner is on your right side.
Now three possibilities exits:
1). If the white is on the right side: BFB'F' or 61(61)'
2). If the white is in the front: B'R'BR or (63)'(63)
3). If the white is on the bottom: FB'F'BB or 1(61)'66 and do step 2 above
Remember not to mess up Step 1 by always returning the white edges to their proper place.
Now get a white corner on the bottom layer (your right side of bottom layer) with the two other colors matching the colors in the centers OR maybe a better way to put it is to get the corner you need on the top layer to be just beneath it on the bottom layer holding the cube so that bottom corner is on your right side.
Now three possibilities exits:
1). If the white is on the right side: BFB'F' or 61(61)'
2). If the white is in the front: B'R'BR or (63)'(63)
3). If the white is on the bottom: FB'F'BB or 1(61)'66 and do step 2 above
step 3 WU Middle Layer (turn bottom layer so middle edge you need done matches center color) T shape, this becomes your front face as you do the following moves.
to move bottom edge to right middle to move bottom edge to left middle
B' R' B R (63)' (63) (B L) B' L' (64) (64)'
B F B' F' (61) (61)' B' F' B F (61)' (61)
Note (63)' means 6' 3' or the bottom counterclockwise and the right side counterclockwise.
If your middle edge piece is already in the middle but in the wrong spot do either move first to move it to the bottom.
to move bottom edge to right middle to move bottom edge to left middle
B' R' B R (63)' (63) (B L) B' L' (64) (64)'
B F B' F' (61) (61)' B' F' B F (61)' (61)
Note (63)' means 6' 3' or the bottom counterclockwise and the right side counterclockwise.
If your middle edge piece is already in the middle but in the wrong spot do either move first to move it to the bottom.
step 4 YU Top Cross (Yellow Top Edges)
spin top yellow layer until 2 position is in correct place or 2 & 4 or 4 & 6 are in correct position, the front side is determined when the cube is held in the above way.
after first time through, the below moves, position 2 only becomes 2 & 4 yellow up then another time through the moves below it becomes 4,5,6 a line done then another time through the moves below becomes the needed yellow cross. The same front face remains the front face until you achieve the yellow cross although these edges may not be where they belong yet; step 5 will get these edges where they belong.
Note: You may have 2 & 4 or 4,5,6 or be done before you start which would require fewer times through the moves below.
F R T 1 3 5
R' T' F' (351)'
spin top yellow layer until 2 position is in correct place or 2 & 4 or 4 & 6 are in correct position, the front side is determined when the cube is held in the above way.
after first time through, the below moves, position 2 only becomes 2 & 4 yellow up then another time through the moves below it becomes 4,5,6 a line done then another time through the moves below becomes the needed yellow cross. The same front face remains the front face until you achieve the yellow cross although these edges may not be where they belong yet; step 5 will get these edges where they belong.
Note: You may have 2 & 4 or 4,5,6 or be done before you start which would require fewer times through the moves below.
F R T 1 3 5
R' T' F' (351)'
step 5 YU Finish Yellow Cross (the top cross is done but the edges might not be where they need to be yet)
spin top yellow layer so two of the four edges are in the correct place (if you can, if not then do moves below and then you should be able to match two of them) now turn the whole cube so positions 2 & 6 are the two in the correct place then to get positions 4 & 8 to switch do:
R T R' T 3 5 3' 5
R T T R' U 3 5 5 3' 5 now all four edges of yellow cross match there centers.
spin top yellow layer so two of the four edges are in the correct place (if you can, if not then do moves below and then you should be able to match two of them) now turn the whole cube so positions 2 & 6 are the two in the correct place then to get positions 4 & 8 to switch do:
R T R' T 3 5 3' 5
R T T R' U 3 5 5 3' 5 now all four edges of yellow cross match there centers.
step 6 YU Yellow corners in the correct places
you must NOT turn the top layer now so rotate entire cube until position 9 corner is in correct place (not necessarily with yellow facing up which is the next and last step). If NO corner cube is correct do steps below and at least one corner cube will be in the correct position. Now to make the other triangle shape corners rotate once do:
T R T' L' 53(54)'
T R' T' L 5(35)'4 do again if necessary to move them all again.
you must NOT turn the top layer now so rotate entire cube until position 9 corner is in correct place (not necessarily with yellow facing up which is the next and last step). If NO corner cube is correct do steps below and at least one corner cube will be in the correct position. Now to make the other triangle shape corners rotate once do:
T R T' L' 53(54)'
T R' T' L 5(35)'4 do again if necessary to move them all again.
step 7 YU Completed Cube (THE "HAVE FAITH" STEP)
rotate the entire cube so 9 is NOT done this time but needs yellow up
if yellow is on right then the first time through yellow will be in front then do it again for yellow on top
**** the hardest thing to do is to have faith and keep the original front side always facing you and just turn the top layer so the next top corner #9 that needs to be done is set up in position #9 and repeat doing the steps below once or twice as needed to get their yellow side facing up and turning the top layer only again with the original front side still being the front side to get another top corner cubes yellow on top until all yellow cubes are on top. Don't FREAK out, have FAITH as the entire cube will look messed up until you make the final turn. Finally turn the top layer only so all faces are the same color. YOU DID IT!
ALWAYS HOLD CUBE SO FRONT IS FACING YOU AND JUST SPIN THE TOP LAYER
R F' R' F 3 (13)' 1 if yellow on right side you need to this line four times
repeat R F' R' F 3 (13)' 1 as you spin top to #9 each time after yellow on top
rotate the entire cube so 9 is NOT done this time but needs yellow up
if yellow is on right then the first time through yellow will be in front then do it again for yellow on top
**** the hardest thing to do is to have faith and keep the original front side always facing you and just turn the top layer so the next top corner #9 that needs to be done is set up in position #9 and repeat doing the steps below once or twice as needed to get their yellow side facing up and turning the top layer only again with the original front side still being the front side to get another top corner cubes yellow on top until all yellow cubes are on top. Don't FREAK out, have FAITH as the entire cube will look messed up until you make the final turn. Finally turn the top layer only so all faces are the same color. YOU DID IT!
ALWAYS HOLD CUBE SO FRONT IS FACING YOU AND JUST SPIN THE TOP LAYER
R F' R' F 3 (13)' 1 if yellow on right side you need to this line four times
repeat R F' R' F 3 (13)' 1 as you spin top to #9 each time after yellow on top
The Way I Memorized the Moves so to remember them longer.
You'll probably have your own way of memorizing the steps so you can skip the rest of this page as the cube is solved already.
In step four, after flipping the cube so yellow is on top, is where I know it gets hard and my first thought (with a smile on my face) is FART abbreviated (F R T) realizing it is 135 then reverse it (or counterclockwise turns) (351)'
[start with a 1, end with a 1'] [start with the front, end with the front in reverse]
Then since step 4 started 135 the 35 on the end helps me start step 5 with the 3 5 then note the 3' second to the end each time is the only counterclockwise moves in this step.
Then if you flip the 35 digits you get 53 to get step 6 off to a great start 53(54)' then again 5 but the same (35)' in the center only prime (meaning reverse or counterclockwise spins) 4. Also note the #'s are in the same order only the center is counterclockwise primes. Also note if you watch the white you'll see them returning to their places when you do 5(35)'4.
The final step with the numbers is easy for me as the number 13 is my favorite number and 31 is 13 switched.
WHY....Side note on the number 13: I designed and taught an Astronomy class and discovered that the sun actually travels though 13 constellations (regions of the sky) each year and NOT 12 as Astrologers show in the newspapers each day. This is the reason I made 13 my number so I can tell the story about the sun moving through 13 regions of the sky and not 12 (Ophiucus [the great physician] is the thirteenth region the sun is in for 23 days and Ophiucus [pronounced O fee you cuss but don't cuss] is standing on Scorpius but the sun only passes through Scorpius for 7 days each year.)
And there were 13 original colonies so 13 is all over our U.S. coinage. And the Last Supper had the 12 Apostles and Christ. And a Bakers Dozen....etc
Another side note: As a Physics major in college many times I remembered concepts by either thinking the concept was common sense or Ass Backwards to common sense. 13 is my number but 31 is Ass Backwards 13 with (13)' in the middle sandwiched between the Ass Backwards 3 1 as 3(13)'1 and
in the worse scenario if all four top yellow corners are all facing the right side you'd have to do this move four times to get one yellow on top and spin the top to layer only to position the next one to position #9 and again four times and spin the top only to get third one in the top right corner, position #9, keeping the same front side facing you through all of step 7 and finally one more spin of the top layer only to position the next corner cube in the top front side, position #9, and do 3(13)'1 four more times for a total or sixteen times so you'll get good at 3(13)'1. Of course that is the worse case scenario which has only happened once out of hundreds of times solving the Rubic's Cube.
[start with a 1, end with a 1'] [start with the front, end with the front in reverse]
Then since step 4 started 135 the 35 on the end helps me start step 5 with the 3 5 then note the 3' second to the end each time is the only counterclockwise moves in this step.
Then if you flip the 35 digits you get 53 to get step 6 off to a great start 53(54)' then again 5 but the same (35)' in the center only prime (meaning reverse or counterclockwise spins) 4. Also note the #'s are in the same order only the center is counterclockwise primes. Also note if you watch the white you'll see them returning to their places when you do 5(35)'4.
The final step with the numbers is easy for me as the number 13 is my favorite number and 31 is 13 switched.
WHY....Side note on the number 13: I designed and taught an Astronomy class and discovered that the sun actually travels though 13 constellations (regions of the sky) each year and NOT 12 as Astrologers show in the newspapers each day. This is the reason I made 13 my number so I can tell the story about the sun moving through 13 regions of the sky and not 12 (Ophiucus [the great physician] is the thirteenth region the sun is in for 23 days and Ophiucus [pronounced O fee you cuss but don't cuss] is standing on Scorpius but the sun only passes through Scorpius for 7 days each year.)
And there were 13 original colonies so 13 is all over our U.S. coinage. And the Last Supper had the 12 Apostles and Christ. And a Bakers Dozen....etc
Another side note: As a Physics major in college many times I remembered concepts by either thinking the concept was common sense or Ass Backwards to common sense. 13 is my number but 31 is Ass Backwards 13 with (13)' in the middle sandwiched between the Ass Backwards 3 1 as 3(13)'1 and
in the worse scenario if all four top yellow corners are all facing the right side you'd have to do this move four times to get one yellow on top and spin the top to layer only to position the next one to position #9 and again four times and spin the top only to get third one in the top right corner, position #9, keeping the same front side facing you through all of step 7 and finally one more spin of the top layer only to position the next corner cube in the top front side, position #9, and do 3(13)'1 four more times for a total or sixteen times so you'll get good at 3(13)'1. Of course that is the worse case scenario which has only happened once out of hundreds of times solving the Rubic's Cube.
2x2 solution (for me, in case I forget)
Step 1
With a white on the bottom layer, facing down, and on the left side. Place another white cube in the upper right side that matches the front color.
repeat 3, 5, 3',5' (R, T, R', T') until the cube is in the correct place.
now turn cube so another finished cube is in the lower left and get another piece with the color that matches the front of the lower left cube in the upper front right side, and repeat the formula.
Continue the above until the bottom row is solved.
With a white on the bottom layer, facing down, and on the left side. Place another white cube in the upper right side that matches the front color.
repeat 3, 5, 3',5' (R, T, R', T') until the cube is in the correct place.
now turn cube so another finished cube is in the lower left and get another piece with the color that matches the front of the lower left cube in the upper front right side, and repeat the formula.
Continue the above until the bottom row is solved.
Step 2 Get unsolved layer pieces all in their correct places.
With the solved layer on the bottom still. Turned the top, unsolved layer, until only one of the cubes are in the correct place, and hold cube so the correct corner is on the front right side.
Then, 5, 3, 5', 4', 5, 3', 5', 4 (Note: if you watch the lower white layer, you should notice the white pieces fall back into place.)
With the solved layer on the bottom still. Turned the top, unsolved layer, until only one of the cubes are in the correct place, and hold cube so the correct corner is on the front right side.
Then, 5, 3, 5', 4', 5, 3', 5', 4 (Note: if you watch the lower white layer, you should notice the white pieces fall back into place.)
Step 3 Get all yellow flipped to the bottom layer
OK, so now hold cube with white on top, and hold the cube so a lower right cube does not have a yellow on the bottom. ALSO, notice which color is in front as this same face must always face you until the cube is solved.
Now, repeat step 1 until the yellow is on the bottom.
Then rotate bottom only until another yellow cube is in the lower front right side and repeat Step 1 formula again, making sure to keep the same side facing you.
Repeat getting all yellows facing the bottom and the cube is solved.
OK, so now hold cube with white on top, and hold the cube so a lower right cube does not have a yellow on the bottom. ALSO, notice which color is in front as this same face must always face you until the cube is solved.
Now, repeat step 1 until the yellow is on the bottom.
Then rotate bottom only until another yellow cube is in the lower front right side and repeat Step 1 formula again, making sure to keep the same side facing you.
Repeat getting all yellows facing the bottom and the cube is solved.