NationStates Jolt Archive

Nothing complicated here - I just had a discussion with my boyfriend. He claims that my ability to solve a Rubik's Cube (even though it takes me a ridiculous length of time) makes me a freak. I was a bit more confident in disagreeing with that before he pointed out that, out of our 2 dozen maths-genius-freak friends, only me, my boyfriend, and two other people can solve cubes.

So, go on. Poll me, Generalites.

I can get one face: one side all one colour, but the edges are still mixed
I can get the first layer: One colour done, plus the edges are all alligned correctly
I can get the first two layers: See above, plus the middle edges are all aligned and oriented properly
I can get the first two layers, plus the face of the third layer: See above, plus one side (opposite the original complete face) all one colour
I can complete the entire cube: If you don't understand this option, you can't do it
I can complete a standard 3x3x3 cube in under 40 seconds: You freaks
I can complete either a 4x4x4 cube, a 5x5x5 cube, or an irregular cube of some kind: I demand that you teach me at once, you freak (uh... demand nicely, of course. And I mean freak in the nicest possible way, naturally)
I can't solve a cube. In addition, you are a freaky scary maths freak: Don't be silly, I can't even add without counting on my fingers most of the time...

(Poll pending since I need to... make it... do that thing where it exists. Patience is a virtue. Although, I almost wrote virus. It's obviously a little early for me to be awake)

Augh...The only thing that makes me feel stupid...that and babbling.

Those things are pure evil I say.

Smash it and put it together again.

Yep, sometimes I can get it in unter 40 seconds. But sometimes they're mixed up weird, so it doesn't work well.

Smash it and put it together again.

I was going to say paint the sides, but that works too...

I was going to say paint the sides, but that works too...
That's the American way.

Smash it and put it together again.

We have a cube in the maths office at uni that has one of the centre pieces snapped off. If you pick it up without knowing that and handling it accordingly, it shatters into its component pieces. Which fall all over the floor and table and chess boards. And then you have to put it back together.

We call it the Explodo cube, and leave it, enticingly one move away from completion, sitting on the table near the door, for newcomers to the room to discover.

...We're harsh that way.

That's the American way.
But if that's the American way, what do you call it when you peel off all the stickers and then reapply them?

But if that's the American way, what do you call it when you peel off all the stickers and then reapply them?
That's how I did it. Then I mixed it back up again taking careful note of each move I made. Then I took it to one of my friends and solved it in a couple minutes. heh heh heh Sucker never knew.

if your bf thinks its freakish to be able to solve a rubiks cube he's nutz.

it is very geeky to take pride in being able to solve one or that you can solve one really really fast but its in no way freaky.

ive never been interested in it enough to make a serious effort at doing one. my family was obsessed with it when they first came out ....about 100 years ago wasnt it? .... so that when i came home from college they were already good at it. i wasnt about to be incompetant at something they were all good at so i didnt bother with it.

it is very geeky to take pride in being able to solve one or that you can solve one really really fast but its in no way freaky.
Well, it might be, but it really IS rewarding when you actually learn how to solve one. Then those things stop being frustrating and start being fun. :D (okay, fine, I'm a geek. Sue me.)

I've never tried... but one of my friends can do it with his eyes close, literally (going through all possible combos, I guess). He also has a practice cube with all white sides on which he practices his "moves". Scary. I've seen him solve one with a blindfold, and I see him practicing all the time.

Side note: This kid is also a master full lock picker. He has broken into many of the lockers at our school. He puts his ear to a master lock, listens carefully, makes notes on a piece of paper, tries out different combos, and usually has it open in less than 45 minutes.

With a screwdriver and a bit of imagination, it's easy to solve any of these cubes.

I've seen it done in 45 seconds. Haven't ever tried though. Supposedly there are a number of moves that when learned can get it everytime.

With a screwdriver and a bit of imagination, it's easy to solve any of these cubes.

If you'd actually tried it, you'd know it requires absolutely no imagination whatsoever to do it that way :p

Does take a bit of dexterity, finger-wise when it comes to the 5x5x5 cubes though

I've seen it done in 45 seconds. Haven't ever tried though. Supposedly there are a number of moves that when learned can get it everytime.

Yep, that's the set I have.

I know two algorithms for the 2nd layer, two for the top face (though you have to memorise a bunch of different orientations to use them in, depending on the starting patterns), one algorithm for the corners of the final layer, and two algorithms for the edges of the final layer.

So I only had to memorise 7 algorithms altogether (I can get the first layer intuitively). They aren't very efficient though. I should really learn some more...

Hell, I get stuck on the 15-puzzle. Now project that into 3-space? Forget it...

i can do it blind folded with both hands tied behind my back

Well, it might be, but it really IS rewarding when you actually learn how to solve one. Then those things stop being frustrating and start being fun. :D (okay, fine, I'm a geek. Sue me.)
oh i didnt mean it was geeky to feel good about a job well done, i mean those people who will find a reason to mention that they can do it. as if its right up there with solving world hunger or beating kasparov in a game of chess.

and doing it really really fast isnt any more impressive than being able to do it at all.

With someone (patient) who knows how and a bit of concentration you can learn to do it easily in a few days. I can do it in 32 secs (my best time). Its fun. I can also do like twenty interesting patterns with a solved cube. I have a 4x4x4 and a 5x5x5 and demand that anyone who knows a websit to learn it post it here b/c my parents keep nagging me to solve it. oh yeah, i learned it and got my best time when i was 12.

I thought they were pretty easy to just solve.

Doing it blind folded or under 30 seconds, THAT'S the tough act.
I wanted to learn the speed solutions and get a good lubricated cube, but I found myself bored of them once I could solve them.

This was back when they were a new fad though, I didn't realise anyone still messed around with them.

He also has a practice cube with all white sides on which he practices his "moves". .

.

I could solve that one

Does peeling off the stickers and rearranging them count as solving it?

That is my Gordian Knot style solution...

I solved mine as a kid. It involved using a screwdriver.... ;)

Those cubes are fricking nuts. I solved one face (or side, whatever) when I was 7. Took me five minutes, if not even. I put it down before I went to bed, and that was that. I didn't touch it again.

Eh, I might end up buying one, who knows. Though my time would be much better spent learning more Japanese...