Introduction: How to Solve the Rubik's Cube
The Rubik's cube is the best selling toy in the U.S.
some may think it is impossible to solve, even Erno Rubik didn't think there was a combination to
there are 43,000,000,000,000,000,000 (that is 43 quintillion) possible combinations.
So how can you solve the cube without memorizing 43 quintillion different combinations?
there are things called algorithms that are based on mathematical equations that get pieces to places without messing up the whole cube.
Some of you may be wondering why i wanted to learn to solve the Rubik's cube, well I am very big into math and I am Very good at memorizing things in fact I have an IQ of 120 but you don't need a high iq to learn how to solve the Rubik's cube. I learn this method last Christmas when I was bored on Christmas break and wanted something to do. It only took me a week to learn to solve it, but it wasn't like I was doing it for a week straight 24 hours a day, in fact i probably spent an hour a day max that's 7 hours max it took me to solve the Rubik's cube. So in this tutorial i will show you a beginners method that I used on how to solve the Rubik's cube and maby later i might teach you an advance method on how to solve it, but you will need to know how to solve it with the beginners method first before you move onto the advanced method.
What You Need
- A Rubik's cube
- an Attentive mindset
Step 1:
To get how to solve the Rubik's cube i will explain to you how this method solves it.
Most people think you solve the cube face by face but that is wrong you are supposed to solve one face then layer by layer.
the blue picture below shows the notation of moves that make up an algorithm
first things first you need to get the cross it doesn't matter what color it is as long as you have a cross where the colors on the sides match
Note: what I mean by the colors on the side matching is if you are solving the red faces cross the color of the edge piece should match up with it's side
Step 2:
Now you will need to get the rest of the first side
to get the white piece up to where it needs to be
the algorithm for it with the green side facing you is
R, Fi, Ri, F
the algorithm for the bottom picture is
F, D, Fi, Di, R, Fi, Ri, F
these are algorithms that I invented
Step 3:
Congratulations you have solved the first side but that isn't very impressive so lets go on.
Now you need to flip the solved side so its on the bottom so you can get the edge pieces aligned also known as the second layer
you need to find the edge pieces that belong in the middle row
you need to find an edge piece and line it up with its color
if it has to the right the algorithm you need to use is
U, R, Ui, Ri, Ui, Fi, U, F
if it has to go to the left use this algorithm
Ui, Li, U, L, U, F, Ui, Fi,
now do that to all the edge pieces
you are 2/3rd's of the way done
Step 4:
Now you have the first 2 layers finished
you now need the top cross
keep doing this algorithm until the top cross is solved
F, U, R, Ui, Ri, Fi
now you should have the top cross
to solve the top face of the Rubik's cube you will need to do this algorithm
until the top of you Rubik's cube looks like the picture then turn the whole cube to the right and do the again. if the top of you cube is solved your good but if it isn't get turn it so it looks like the picture then turn it to the right then do the algorithm again
R, U, Ri, U, R, U, U, Ri
now all you need to do is get the 3rd layer done
Step 5:
Now you have the first 2 layers and the top your so close
if you have a combination like the orange side where there is only one one odd piece turn the top layer so it is on the back side then do this algorithm
Ri, F, Ri, B, B, R, Fi, Ri, B, B, R, R, Ui
Now your cube should look like the 2nd and 3rd picture with 3 faces with only 1 piece off
go to the opposite face off the one fully solve face and if the odd piece has to go to the right do this algorithm
F, F, Ui, L, Ri, F, F, Li, R, Ui, F, F
If it needs to go left do this algorithm
F, F, U, L, Ri, F, F, Li, R, U, F, F
Step 6: Finished
Congratulations You have now solved the Modern day mystery; The Rubik's Cube
but if all this went right over your head try checking out this link it does a very good job explaining how to solve it http://www.rubiks.com/solving-center/3x3_guide/
Thank you for viewing my instructable please like, comment, and share it
if you liked this instructable please follow me and check out some of my other projects
Please vote for this instructables
check out this cool website http://www.mandarintechnologies.com/
Thanks

Participated in the
Epilog Challenge V
152 Comments
5 years ago
can anyone tell me how to solve a mirror cube
Reply 4 months ago
I think the same way but with the mirrors
4 months ago
Hi, I found another algorithm on YouTube but at one stage it become hard,
thanks to your instructable I have finished solving it, with a mixed algorithm of your's and the one on YouTube
Thanks
Question 1 year ago on Introduction
Wait... how do i solve it?
1 year ago
I have 1000 iq and i cant do this be good
Edit:Edit
6 years ago on Introduction
The writer says "these are the algorithms I invented" and claims ownership of this, but from the images it is clearly a rip-off copy of the much better tutorial (with correct grammar and spelling!) at www.youcandothecube.com/secret-unlocked/solution-stage-one.aspx
Reply 1 year ago
XD XD I thought nobody would point this out!
Reply 1 year ago
thanks for pointing this out the writers was confusing as hell
1 year ago
What is the fastest time?
6 years ago on Introduction
it took a bit of work to figure out what the cube actually looks like, but try this.
rotate white center counterclockwise, orange clockwise, yellow counterclockwise, orange counterclockwise, yellow counterclockwise, blue clockwise, yellow clockwise, blue counterclockwise, green counterclockwise, yellow counterclockwise, green clockwise, pink counterclockwise, yellow clockwise, pink clockwise, yellow clockwise, blue counterclockwise, yellow counterclockwise, blue clockwise, green clockwise, yellow clockwise, green 180 degrees, yellow clockwise, green clockwise, yellow clockwise, orange clockwise, yellow counterclockwise, orange counterclockwise, pink clockwise, yellow counterclockwise, pink counterclockwise, yellow counterclockwise, blue counterclockwise, yellow clockwise, blue 180, yellow counterclockwise, blue counterclockwise, yellow counterclockwise, orange counterclockwise, yellow clockwise, orange clockwise, yellow counterclockwise, pink counterclockwise, yellow clockwise, pink clockwise, yellow clockwise, green clockwise, yellow counterclockwise, orange clockwise, yellow clockwise, orange counterclockwise, yellow counterclockwise green counterclockwise, orange clockwise, yellow 180, orange 180, yellow counterclockwise, orange 180, yellow counterclockwise, orange 180, yellow 180, orange clockwise, blue counterclockwise, orange clockwise, blue counterclockwise, pink 180, blue clockwise, orange counterclockwise, blue counterclockwise, pink 180, blue 180, green 180, yellow counterclockwise, pink clockwise, orange counterclockwise, green 180, orange clockwise, pink counterclockwise, yellow counterclockwise, green 180
should solve the cube assuming there are no typos
Reply 1 year ago
please make a instructable with pictures on this
Reply 6 years ago
wow cool
6 years ago on Introduction
me stuck on cube
Reply 2 years ago
its coob
3 years ago
I already know how to solve a 2x2-8x8. I always go online and try to solve i using that method. On this one i couldn't get past the white cross before it became wayyy to vague for anyone who doesn't know how to solve the cube. For example when you are trying to do the yellow face, if you do that algorithm 3 times it just repeats it self and you don't get anywhere and you need to learn how to hold the cube to do that algorithm.
6 years ago
finally made it, never again
Reply 5 years ago
Haha! These things drive me crazy.
5 years ago
This is really cool
5 years ago
You have addressed this comment to me, jonipinkney, but I am not the writer of this instructable. I do not have a 120 IQ, and I'm not particularly good at the Cube. I was just looking up information about the Cube, and happened to come upon this instructable and your comment. I pitched in to help the writer, because I felt that your comment was borderline violating the "be nice" policy. Just borderline, not enough to flag it, besides I'm not a snitch. So I made this comment here.
The writer is smitty16, who made these claims about his IQ and math interests. Please address your comments to him, and please follow the "be nice" policy while you're about it.
By the way, in the last line of your message, it's "you're" (a contraction of you are) not "your" (second person possessive.) People who live in glass houses etc.
Peace out - Joni
5 years ago
An IQ of 120 is a little over 1 standard deviation above the mean, placing the writer in the top 1/3 of the population, IQ wise. Put another way, his IQ is higher than 2 out of 3 of his peers. It's not in the top 2% (qualifying a person for Mensa), but it's high enough that one could notice a difference in cognitive power between the writer and your hypothetical Average Joe or Norma Median.