HowTo:Solve The 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube

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The 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube in the solved form, as indicated by the yellow sparkle

The 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube is by far "The Most Difficult Puzzle Of All Time™". Many have scrambled, twisted and turned this mythical puzzle, but few have solved it. By the end of this article, YOU TOO will be able to solve this puzzle.

Only One Combination, Only One Solution!

Your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube is the incredibly addictive, multi-dimensional challenge that has fascinated puzzle fans around the world. More cubes have been sold than the number of Oscar Wilde quotes on Uncyclopedia.

Any permutation of the 1 corner cube is possible (1! positions), and 1 cube can be independently rotated (1¹ positions). There is nothing identifying the orientation of the cube in space, reducing the positions by a factor of 1. The number of possible positions of the cube is

${\frac {1!\,1^{1}}{1}}=1!=1$

The 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube has been called "the perfect puzzle" and "the best puzzle ever". You can solve the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube from any starting point. With the right twists, anybody can do it. And with only ONE combination, every challenge is always the same!

Meet Your Cube

The 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube, shown with only centre cubes.

The 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube has 6 sides, or faces. Each face is a different solid colour when the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube is solved.

Your cube is made up of one (1) cube piece, which is simultaneously a centre cube, an edge cube, and a corner cube, making the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube more difficult than any other. This cube piece can be rotated, but is otherwise stationary.

Centre cubes (1)

Centre cubes have 6 colours, six times as many as the standard Rubik's Cube. Although the colors can rotate in place, they do not move independently from one face of the cube to another. In other words, blue is always opposite white, red is always opposite orange, and green is always opposite yellow. Centre cubes determine the colour of the face they're in.

A standard Rubik's Cube can be solved with any of the centre cubes in any of four rotations. A 1x1x1 cube can only be solved with each of the centre cubes in one specific rotation with respect to the others. This alone makes it over a thousand times(4x4x4x4x4x4)as difficult to solve as the standard Rubik's cube.

Edge cubes (1)

Each edge cube has 6 colours on it, 3 colours of which are ordinarily hidden from direct view. These are not in fixed positions like centre cubes.

Corner cubes (1)

There are 6 colours on each corner cube, and all one of the corner cubes rotate in tandem every time the configuration is changed.

Each face can't be turned independently. Try it. (Doing this won't mix up the cube pieces.)

Twisting Hints

A true expert shows off his mad skills.

The easiest way to solve the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube is layer by layer, starting at the top. It is very difficult to solve face by face, and with only one combination, nearly always possible to solve by trial and error.

Always hold the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube in the same orientation while completing a layer. Remember the colours of the top centre cube and the centre cube facing you.

Opposite colours never appear on the same cube piece. For example, no cube piece will have both blue and white, which are opposites, in its colour scheme. It helps to remember which colours are opposites when solving your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube.

There are two kinds of turns: quarter twists and half twists. A quarter twist turns a face 90 degrees, and a half twist will turn a face 180 degrees.

Sometimes you'll perform a series of twists to get a single cube into position. Doing that will often get other cubes out of position. Repeat the series of twists backwards to restore the cube.

How To Solve The 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube

The unsolved 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube. Note the lack of shiny, yellow sparkly-things around it like in the first picture.

When solved, every face of the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube is a solid colour. Once you start turning, twisting and flipping, it's easy to mix up the colours. Not to worry - the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube can be set right from any mixed-up combination.

1. Choose a colour. This will be your top face. Turn your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube so that the centre cube on the top face is that colour.
2. Solve the top face, by using quarter- and half-twists. Don't worry if you find this step challenging, this is often the longest and hardest step in solving your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube.
3. Rotate the 1x1x1 Rubik's cube along an axis that is not along the plane of the square that is now on top, and perpendicular to one of the other faces so as to rotate an uncompleted face to the top.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with all other colours.
5. Brag to all your friends on how YOU SOLVED THE 1x1x1 RUBIK'S CUBE!

How To Really Solve The Cube (Cheat)

For people with no time or people who are plain lazy, there are other ways to master the puzzle.

Method 1:

1. Before scrambling, note the correct position of the colours on the cube.
2. Scramble cube.
3. Choose a colour. This will be your top face. Turn your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube so that the centre cube on the top face is that colour.
4. Remove all the stickers except for the one on the top face, so you have only one sticker remaining on your cube. Preferably remove with fingernails or chainsaw.
5. Re-attach stickers in the correct positions, as you noted in Step 1. If you didn't do that, too bad.

Method 2:

1. Disassemble your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube
2. Put the disassembled cube pieces in such a manner to form the original cube. Because there is only one solved combination, this is a way to always solve your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube when your guests go to the toilet.

Method 3:

1. Detach all stickers of your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube.
2. Colour in the now empty faces with your choice of paint. Note that oil paints may take an extended period of time to dry, so if using oil based paints, apply thinly.

Method 4:

1. Run to the store
2. Buy a brand new 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube.
3. There you have it! A solved 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube!!!

Method 5: Using God's Algorithm for the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube

The LORD God also enjoys solving the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube in His spare time, and has developed His own personal solving method (which was independently rediscovered by mathematicians in 1995 [1]). If you successfully master this technique, you, too, can legitimately claim that you are just as good as God at (at least) one thing!

Method 6:

Talk to the cube; try to reach a compromise.

Cube Games And Patterns

After solving the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube, you may wonder, "What else is there to do?". This section is only for those experts that have solved the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube many times, and can do so from any combination.

Patterns For The Experienced Solver

There are almost an infinite number of beautiful patterns you can make with your 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube. Here is the complete list:

Games For All Ages

Don't be just limited to the vast range of patterns! Entertain yourself and others with these family friendly fun games.

• Place it in a bowl of jelly cubes, and see who gets injured!
• Paint your cube's blue side black and hand it to a colleague. Threaten to shoot him if he can't turn the blue face up!!
• Cut in half, so that you have 2 cubes. Don't worry, these half-cubes will grow back their other halves just like worms.
• Grind into a fine powder, and mix into your next cake. Give a prize to the person who figures it out first, or the first one to be hospitalised.
• Have a competition and see who can solve the 1x1x1 Rubik's Cube in the longest amount of time.
• Flip the cube upside down. Your inexperienced guests won't know where that top face disappeared to! Take advantage of your less able friends.
• Scramble it and see who fails to solve it out of your hand first.

Links

• Game
• Rubik's Cube

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