I was wondering how people find the algorithms to solve mechanical puzzles such as Rubik, Megaminx, Gear Cube...
How do they find it?
Are they specially intelligent?
Just by a brute force process?
With complex mathematics?
With computers?
A mix of all those methods?
I guess they try simple movements and annotate how every piece changed.
Later they try to compose several of these movements and try to see if it can be reduced in some way to get the same result.
And then they try to find useful combinations maybe with the help of a computer.
How do they find it?
Are they specially intelligent?
Just by a brute force process?
With complex mathematics?
With computers?
A mix of all those methods?
I guess they try simple movements and annotate how every piece changed.
Later they try to compose several of these movements and try to see if it can be reduced in some way to get the same result.
And then they try to find useful combinations maybe with the help of a computer.