The EASIEST way to solve?

[pyrotek7x7]

Hey everyone.

It really bugs me that I can't find any guides that represent the EASIEST way to solve the 3x3x3 cube. That is, with the least amount of memorization, and where time or the amount of turns don't matter.

Throwing these unnecesary, though useful, extra algorithms at people thinks they need to learn a lot more than they do.

So, I've written a guide for some guys at school and they thought it was really helpful. With a grand total of only memorizing 39 turns(Not counting first layer, because that should be completely intuitive) it skips some of the things that aren't needed. Take a look:

http://www.geocities.com/pyrotek7x7/
(This was written in word. I've no idea how to get a word document onto a website and integrate the java cube players that everyone uses. If someone does, I'd like some help. Also, I use the word formula instead of algorithm here, because algorithm is too big of a word for some people, and a sequence of turns in my opinion does not match the definition of an algorithm. )

So, yes, as you can see it only uses ONE algorithm for the second layer, ONE algorithm to get the cross on the third layer, ONE algorithm to finish the last side, ONE algorithm to get the last corners, and ONE algorithm to get the last edges. (And then one extra page I threw in for people that wanted to go further, IF they wanted to go further)


Anyway, all I want is to know is the easiest possible way to solve the cube. I never got a good look at one, but those little guides that come with some cubes looked like they only required repition of 4-move sets...is this true? I'd like to know these algorithms, and make my guide even EASIER. A search came up with a page of "Solve the cube with only 4 algorithms!" but it is down. :\

Also, any suggestions for my guide are also helpful.

 

[pjk]

I will take a look at this later, but as far as integrating a Word document onto a webpage. Just go to a free webpage host, such as freewebs.com and cut and paste the text. For the animated Rubiks cubes, go to pjkcubed.com, click on my Beginners guide on the left, and scroll to the very bottom and there is a link (it is randelschofer.com or something), you will see the link there. Good luck.

 

[pyrotek7x7]

Thanks. I'm using Geocities, but the problem is if I cut and paste, it gets rid of all of the images, and the other things, such as bolds and underlines. Is freewebs different?

And, I've seen that page before, with the java cubes. The problem is that I am having a tad bit of trouble using them. I'll keep trying.

The main focus of this page is still to find an easier solution, though. Anybody else?

 

[pjk]

I actually won't be able to view your guide - I am on dial up and 2.2MB will take forever.

Just cut and paste the text, then use HTML to add the images. Or use a WYSIWYG editor (freewebs and brinkster.com have it) and just paste and it will save all the images and do all the formatting for you. To insert an image in HTML:

To bold something:
insert text

To underline:
<u>insert text</u>

If you need more help, feel free to ask. I am also interested in see your guide, so once you get it onto a page, please let me know. Thanks

 

[pyrotek7x7]

Ugh...I was fearing someone would have dial-up.

The problem is that I have over 50 images, most of them unique, and saving each one of those individually...ugh...

There is this that I just made. It is all of the text, but no special text effects or pictures. There is one java applet cube that I incorrectly used, so it isn't visible...

http://www.geocities.com/pyrotek7x7/rubiksolve.html

I have bolded the titles though. That is all I have time for.

 

[tenderchkn]

There are more intuitive ways to solve (less algorithms to memorize). The F2L can be solved completely intuitively (Petrus without edge orientation, for example). The last layer can be solved entirely with commutators (less intuitive, but easy to learn how/why they work).

As for being the easiest to learn, don't assume that fewer algorithms means greater ease. I don't think your guide is significantly easier than other generic 4-look beginners guides. If they can learn everything, it is not too much more work learning the mirrors and inverses.

You should convert your images to .jpg or .gif. That will reduce the image size by a factor of at least 10. Use Photoshop or some other program with a batch convert function, so you don't have to have to do them individually. Also, get Dreamweaver or a similar program and get familiar with HTML.

 

[AvGalen]

You didn't look hard enough, I "invented" a method that only requires one algorithm (R U R' U') and some extremely small adjustments: http://z12.invisionfree.com/rubiks/index.php?showtopic=410

 

[pyrotek7x7]

AvGalen, that seems almost the same, and much more confusing. >_>

Tenderchkn, F2L is really hard. I've tried it, and it just doesn't make any sense to me. Maybe I haven't tried enough, because if anyone at my school can do it, I can. >_> And If it takes me an hour to find it out, others here will find it much easier to memorize 8 turns and get those second layers in.
Also, I don't know of any programs that do that...Photoshop is way too expensive, and will Word even handle that?

 

[pjk]

I looked over the text portion of your guide. It looks almost the same as beginners Fridrich. The F2L is intuitive. You just have to get used to what you need to do, then just do it. Check out cubestation.co.uk for a good view of the F2L.

 

[pyrotek7x7]

Geez, F2L just blows my mind. I just don't understand it...I'll keep working on it, but I still think learning 8 moves is much easier and better, as long as speed isn't a factor.

I'm working on making the guide a webpage, and trying to figure out that java applet. Could you please show me the coding you used for your first animated cube on the beginners guide? It would really help me start off, because that is exactly what I want, moves underneath it and everything.

 

[gn17]

Originally posted by pyrotek7x7@Feb 1 2007, 03:13 AM
Geez, F2L just blows my mind. I just don't understand it...I'll keep working on it, but I still think learning 8 moves is much easier and better, as long as speed isn't a factor.

This might help you: http://dougreed.no-ip.org/~doug/f2l/f2l.htm
It covers the intuitive aspect of F2L. Really, don't get discouraged when doing intuitive F2L makes you very slow at the beginning, compared to your times with the beginner's method. When I started, I was clocking in about 3 minutes a solve with intuitive F2L versus my 1.5 minutes with the beginner's method. When you get used to it, your times will start going down. I regularly get sub-50 averages now (not much, but it shows that intuitive F2L does help).

 

[pyrotek7x7]

Wow, that guide totally unblew my mind. It all makes sense now. o_0 Dang, that's going to save me many, many turns. Thanks a lot! ^.^

EDIT: Ugh, except for the last half. >_>

 

[pjk]

What part of the intuitive guide exactly do you not understand? That way we can help you resolve your problem and help you understand it.

In regards to the applet from http://www.randelshofer.ch/ . Here is an example of 1 cube applet on my page:
<applet
code="RubikPlayer.class" archive="rubikplayer.jar" width="80" height="80">
<PARAM name="scriptLanguage" value="SupersetENG">
<PARAM name="scriptProgress" value="0">
<PARAM name="displayLines" value="0">
<param name="alpha" value="-20">
<param name="beta" value="35">

<PARAM name="colorTable" value="0x003373,0xff4600,0xf8f8f8,0x00732f,0x8c000f, 0xffd200,0x707070">

<PARAM name="stickers"
value="4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4, 3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3, 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2, 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0, 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5">
<param name="Script" value="CF">
</applet>

You just edit the numbers (colors) accordingly, and it is all described on his page. You will have to install the RubiksPlayer.class file into the main directory of your site. If you need more help, just let me know.

Pat

 

[pyrotek7x7]

Install RubiksPlayer.class file? Maybe that's why it isn't working. :\ I just have rubiksplayer.zip in there.

As for the guide, I understand Fig. 2 completely, the rest...well, it isn't working. Which side is supposed to be the front?

 

[gn17]

The blue side facing you is the front.

 

[tenderchkn]

I didn't say go and buy it.

But either way, there are a lot of functional image editors around. Using raw bitmaps for webpages is a big no-no.

 

[pjk]

There are tons of free HTML tutorials online, just Google it.

In regards to the Rubiks Player, on the site or in the zipped file, it tells you exactly what to do to make it work. It says to unzip the file, then install the .class file into the main directory.

If you need more help with cubing, or that, let me know.

Pat

 

[annon]

There's really no way to easily determine the easiest method. Some people have trouble with memorization, while others have trouble with intuition.

 

[pyrotek7x7]

I can't find any .class file... :\

 

[pjk]

Download the zip file from his site, and extract the files to a different folder (right click on the zip, and click extract). Then there should be a .class in there.