January 23rd, 2013 - Solve a Rubik's Cube

The Rubik's Cube is one of the most iconic toys in history.  Created in the early 1970's by Hungarian sculptor and professor Erno Rubik, it has since gone on to garner worldwide acclaim and has been dubbed the world's best selling toy.  But for those that have not gotten that memo, the puzzle consists of six different colored sides. The object is to twist them around until all sides are one respective color.

World organizations have been developed to track and record "speedcubers," who are individuals that try to solve the puzzle in as fast a time as possible. The record holder solved the cube in less than six seconds!

There are numerous algorithms that describe solutions to the puzzle, as well as sites that will show you step by step how to twist and turn your cube to solve it.  There's even a program that will allow you to fill in what you have so far and figure out how to solve it from there.  I've used this type of program to solve a Rubik's Cube before.  But I've never done it by myself, on my own, without any help.

Today, I set out to do just that.  I mixed up my Rubik's Cube (it's a holiday version that I got this year as a stocking stuffer)...

 

 

And I set to work.

 

I toiled.

 

I pondered.

 

I tried to out think the puzzle.

 

I twisted.

 

I turned.

 

I rotated.

 

I spent the better afternoon on it.  And this was the result...

 

 

 

Oh well.  some challenges can be conquered in a day.  And some will take much longer than that.  My attempt at solving a Rubik's Cube is not over by any stretch of the imagination, and I am committed to one day knock this one off the bucket list.

 

Now, how the hell am I supposed to put this thing back together?