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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you can complete a Rubiks Cube?

21 replies

EternalDalmatian · 14/10/2015 19:04

There was a thread I was reading on here a couple of weeks back about a Rubiks Cube, which got me interested. So I've been fiddling with ours, found a really good You Tube tutorial and have now managed to complete it three times.

I've gotten quite good now at the first two layers and can do them, with no You Tube tutorial, in about 5 minutes. But the third layer is hell itself.

I can do it, following the tutorial step by step. But there are so many steps that I can't imagine ever remembering them alone. Too many possible combinations of dot/line/L shape/cross on the bottom, too many steps to orient and place the corners etc.

Can you do it? And if like me, you had to 'learn' it (rather than being clever enough to just puzzle it out!), how long did it take you until you could do it with no help?

OP posts:
PersonalClown · 14/10/2015 19:06

If by complete you mean take apart or peel stickers off, then yes, I am a pro! Wink

CrohnicallyAspie · 14/10/2015 19:12

I'm the same as you, can do the bottom two layers without too much difficulty (though I did have to actively sit down and 'learn' it rather than just being able to 'do' it). But I have t figured out the top layer yet, I'm trying not to resort to a tutorial...

PS the latest edition of the cube is peel proof!

Minimammoth · 14/10/2015 19:13

Life's too short

ShowOfHands · 14/10/2015 19:15

I can do it in a 'learnt' way. I can't see it though. It's method, not ability. Like playing instruments. I can play any instrument but have no natural musical ability, just a good memory and an ability to mimic. I do many things the same way. I can copy a picture perfectly. Can't draw well without something to copy.

minionwithdms · 14/10/2015 19:19

No. I once completed one in about thirty seconds, it was like I could just see all the turns I would have to make in sequence fitting together in my mind Never been able to do it since though, so I guess it was just a fluke Sad

Original poster
EternalDalmatian · 14/10/2015 19:22

I have the utmost respect for anyone who can pick one up and just work it out and do it...I think those that can must be few and far between tbh, that's proper genius territory IMO!

It's actually really gotten quite addictive for me. I want to do it to show off in truth...I want to one day be handed a cube and casually do it in 3 minutes and hand it back to see the Shock Grin

OP posts:
partialderivative · 14/10/2015 19:27

Be careful, you are dabbling in Group Theory.

An area best left to Mathematicians who may have had several human attributes removed, and other strange ones re-inserted

Pantone363 · 14/10/2015 19:29

That was my thread! grin

I did it in the end

JeffsanArsehole · 14/10/2015 19:31

Not at all. Not once, not ever. When it first came out I was bored in 2 minutes.

Andrewofgg · 14/10/2015 19:31

I did it once by fluke and I felt like the Guy Who Found The Lost Chord!

Original poster
EternalDalmatian · 14/10/2015 19:36

Well done Pantone! Have you tried it again since? Or did you just want to do it once?

OP posts:
EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 14/10/2015 19:36

When Rubik's Cube was first released onto the market, back in the 70s?? I did actually (genuinely) manage to do it once. No sticker peeling or cheating, I really did do it. But just that once. I was elated, but never since have I managed it.

megletthesecond · 14/10/2015 19:39

The most I managed was two sides.

Peachypeaches · 14/10/2015 19:40

I can do it, I learnt how when I was at school and can still do it now. It takes me about 3 minutes. I can also do large chunks of the method with my eyes shut, which really freaks people out!!

Floralnomad · 14/10/2015 19:43

I had a rubiks cube when they originally came out ,it took me a while then to work out how to do it but I can still do one fairly quickly (5 mins approx) , it's like riding a bike once you know how you never forget IME.

Original poster
EternalDalmatian · 14/10/2015 19:46

That's where you're going wrong megle. I also used to try and do the sides, but the only way to do it is to work on the three layers.

OP posts:
Pantone363 · 14/10/2015 19:47

Yes i'm obsessed with it at the moment! Can do the first two layers without help but need to check when it gets to the final cross

Taytocrisps · 14/10/2015 19:56

No, i couldn't even get one side done I used to switch the stickers around

I remember watching people (even small kids) doing it in about 3 minutes on TV Envy

PotOfYoghurt · 14/10/2015 20:01

Yes, the fastest I've ever timed was 58 seconds. Unfortunately I then got carpal tunnel in both of my hands, which means my speed cubing days are over Sad

Every now and then I pick it up and do it, just for fun.

Also have a 2x2, 5x5 and 9x9 kicking around. Now that's hard.

MargotFenring · 14/10/2015 20:28

No. I can't. Fucking things.

Doubting · 14/10/2015 20:30

DH's record is 35 secs from first sight!

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