• Welcome to the Speedsolving.com, home of the web's largest puzzle community!
    You are currently viewing our forum as a guest which gives you limited access to join discussions and access our other features.

    Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community of 40,000+ people from around the world today!

    If you are already a member, simply login to hide this message and begin participating in the community!

Possibility that the cube is solvable

celli

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
99
Location
The Netherlands!!!
YouTube
Visit Channel
I had a question and maybe you could tell me the answer: If you dissamble your cube, and you put the pieces back in random, what is the possibility that the cube is solvable? I've thought a lot on how to do that, but I just don't know.

Please only post if you have something valuable to add. And no noob or :fp posts if the answer is very simple!
 

flan

Premium Member
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
342
Location
UK
WCA
2010REES03
1/3 possible orientations of a corner are correct

1/2 possible orientations of an edge are correct

1/2 possible permutations of a corner/edge are correct (T J F Y R N perms etc can exchange two corner swaps for two edge swaps)

all are independent of each other so

1/3x2x2 = 1/12
 

StachuK1992

statue
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
3,812
Location
West Chester, PA
WCA
2008KORI02
YouTube
Visit Channel

I'll expand.
There is a 1/3 chance that the corners will be oriented (twisted) in a fashion that they can all be 'correct.'
There is a 1/2 chance that the edges will be oriented (flipped) in a fashion that they can all be 'correct.'

There is a 1/2 chance that the corners and edges can move about each other in such a way that allows them all to be in the same place.
1/(3*2*2) = 1/12.

Edit:
FLAN NINJAS!!!ONE!!111!ELEVEN!!!
 

celli

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
99
Location
The Netherlands!!!
YouTube
Visit Channel
1/2 possible permutations of a corner/edge are correct (T J F Y R N perms etc can exchange two corner swaps for two edge swaps)

I understand the 1/2 and 1/3 possible orientations, but why should you count this 1/2 again? And if you count it, why shouldn't you count the corners and edges apart? So 1/3x2x2x2 = 1/24
 

Sa967St

Not A Moderator
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
3,795
Location
Waterloo, ON, Canada
WCA
2007STRO01
YouTube
Visit Channel
I understand the 1/2 and 1/3 possible orientations, but why should you count this 1/2 again? And if you count it, why shouldn't you count the corners and edges apart? So 1/3x2x2x2 = 1/24

You only have P parity half of the time(2/4).

odd number of edge swaps + even number of corner swaps -> not possible
even number of edge swaps + odd number of corner swaps -> not possible
odd number of edge swaps + odd number of corner swaps -> possible
even number of edge swaps + even number of corner swaps -> possible
 

flan

Premium Member
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
342
Location
UK
WCA
2010REES03
You count this 1/2 again because it's independent of orientation. If you have a cube that is unsolvable because two corners are switched you can never make it solvable by twisting corners or flipping edges. The only way you can make it solvable is by switching two corners or if you want switching two edges because edge permutation and corner permutation are not independent of each other.
Ie if you have 2 switched adjacent corners you can make the cube solvable by switching two edges leaving you with an F perm or similar which of course can be fixed with an alg. I hope this makes sense! :D
 
Last edited:

celli

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
99
Location
The Netherlands!!!
YouTube
Visit Channel
Hey thanks, that does make sense. I get it now! So you don''t coutn them apart because they're not independent of each other. If they were, then we should count them apart, is that what you're saying?
 

celli

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
99
Location
The Netherlands!!!
YouTube
Visit Channel
OK, thanks. I totally get it now! I was thinking of this a lot because of my pops, and I didn't know if I put the pieces back in where they belong. And I always put them back in wrong. But this chance is much lower I expected actually.
 
Top