Algorithm for Solving Rubiks Cube

(Dr Christian Salas, December 2008)

The following is a standard algorithm for solving rubiks cube. (There are many other possible approaches). I will use the following notation: F = front face W = back face R = right face L = left face T = top face B = bottom face

A letter by itself will mean turn that face 90 degrees clockwise (e.g. F). A letter followed by an apostrophe will mean turn that face 90 degrees anticlockwise (e.g. F). A letter followed by the number 2 means turn that face 180 degrees in any direction (e.g. F2). So R T L2 is shorthand for "turn the right face 90 degrees clockwise, then turn the top face 90 degrees anticlockwise, then turn the left face 180 degrees". To interpret clockwise/anticlockwise, imagine that you are looking directly at the particular face you are turning. Step 1. Complete one face of the cube, making sure that the bordering squares on each side are the same colour. Step 2. Align the completed face so that the bordering squares match the colour of the central square on each side face, as in the diagram below:

Step 3. Apply Formula 1 below repeatedly until all the squares on the second row of the side faces match the squares on the first row. Formula 1. R B R B F B F Moves square in 2nd row 3rd column of front face to 3rd row 2nd column of bottom face. Replaces it with square in 2nd row 1st column of bottom face.

The cube should now look as follows:

Step 4. Turn the cube upside down so that the completed face is on the bottom. Repeatedly apply Fomula 2 below until there is a cross on the top face: Formula 2. F T L T L F The cube should now look as follows:

Step 5. Now you need to get the four corner cubes in the top face in their correct positions (so that their colours match the colours of the surrounding faces even if the colours are not yet oriented correctly to match the face colours). To achieve this you only need to be able to swap adjacent corners (Formula 3 below). Apply this formula as required until the four corner cubes in the top face are in the correct positions:

Formula 3. Swapping adjacent corners. Hold the cube with the completed side on the bottom, so that the two corners to be swapped on the top face are in the 1st and 3rd rows of the 3rd column. Apply the following formula: L T R T L T R T2

Step 6. The next step is to orientate the four corner cubes correctly so that their colours match the colours of the faces. For this only two formulas are needed. Formula 4 turns three adjacent corners by 90 degrees anticlockwise: Formula 4. Turns three corners by 90 degrees anticlockwise, keeping square in 1st row and 1st column fixed.

R T R T R T2 R T2

Formula 5. Turns three corners by 90 degrees clockwise, keeping square in 3rd row and 1st column fixed.

R T R T R T2 R T2

Keep applying the above two formulas until the configuration matches one of the diagrams above. Then a single application of either Formula 4 or Formula 5 will lead to the correct orientation of all four corner cubes.

Step 7. The final step is to complete the cube by aligning the outer squares in the 2nd row and 2nd column of the top face, so that the colours match. For this, you again need only two formulas. Formula 6. Switches three adjacent central squares in clockwise direction, keeping square in 2nd row and 1st column fixed.

R2 T F W R2 F W T R2

Formula 7. Switches three adjacent central squares in anticlockwise direction, keeping square in 2nd row and 1st column fixed.

R2 T F W R2 F W T R2

Keep applying the above formulas until the configuration matches one of the diagrams above. Then a single application of either Formula 6 or Formula 7 will complete the solution of rubiks cube.

(End of Note)