The cubed puzzle that we all love and hate turns 40 today. Invented in 1974 by Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian professor and sculptor, this logic game cube has sold more than 350 million cubes worldwide. It is undeniably the world’s best-selling toy.
With the popularity of the original 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube, more variations such as a 4x4x4, 11x11x11 and even a 17x17x17 cube can be found on the market! Fun fact: Arizona’s own Nick Stanton is the winner of many Rubik’s cube competitions and is also a World Champion! Check out his stats here.
Solving a Rubik’s cube is not easy. Here are some tips for beginners (Credits: Yahoo and Wikihow)
1.) Choose a color and a face.
Tackle the opposite face.
After solving the top face, the standard next step is to tackle the bottom, opposite face. One good way to do that is to deliberately move an edge piece out from the already finished top, making a “keyhole.” As you maneuver pieces to solve the bottom face, you’ll find that if you move them through the keyhole each time, you won’t disturb the rest of the top. Once you’re done with the bottom, it’s a simple matter to move the keyhole piece back into place.
3.) Follow your heart
Because whats Rubik’s cube if you don’t try and fail? Adventure with the puzzle and twist your way in to success.
4.) Lube your cube
Is your cube not twisting as smooth as you like it? Lubing your cube can make your cube smooth and fast. Twist the top face through 45 degrees, and use a flat-bladed screwdriver to gently pry out one of the edge pieces. Spray a small amount of silicon-based lubricant into the gap. Replace the edge piece, and give your cube a good scrambling.
