i've been assuming this but have to makes sure: in edges permutation, moves are restricted to R2 B2 L2 F2 and U D, you can also do U' D' or U2 D2? not totally certain.
Think about what affects orientation. The definition of an edge being correctly oriented is if it can be solved with a single turn. Since U or D turns never affect orientation, it's unrestricted. (Of course, orientation is always relative.)
The reason some setup moves are restricted is because they affect orientation, and once you do a three cycle and reverse the setup, you FLIP the first edge, and UNFLIP another, resulting in two pieces incorrectly oriented.
Originally posted by tenderchkn@Feb 25 2007, 08:18 PM Think about what affects orientation. The definition of an edge being correctly oriented is if it can be solved with a single turn. Since U or D turns never affect orientation, it's unrestricted. (Of course, orientation is always relative.)
That's a pretty bad defenition for correct/incorrect orientation of an edge..
When the edges are permuted, you can define 'orientation' in different ways. Most blindfold cubers would say an edge is oriented correctly if it can be solved with U, D, R, L, F2 and B2 moves only. The only turns that are not allowed are F and B.
Try to flip an edge doing only U, D, R, L, F, B2 and F2 moves only. You will see this is not possible. The edge can reach all 12 positions in only 1 orientation.
Do RU on a solved cube. The UF edge can't be solved with a single turn now, yet most people would call this edge correctly oriented, because U'R' will insert the edge correctly.