You solve the Rubik’s cube LAYER by LAYER using the following 5 steps: STEP 1 - COMPLETE THE FIRST LAYER CROSS STEP 2 - COMPLETE THE FIRST LAYER CORNERS STEP 3 - COMPLETE SECOND LAYER.

Introduction: How to Solve the 2 by 2 Rubik's Cube

This is my newest instructable and I have recently gotten into rubiks cubes, so, here is how I learned to solve the 2 by 2 rubik's cube. I hope you can understand all of the things that I am saying in this instructable.

• How to Solve the Rubik's Cube by Shelley Chang (appropriated by Lucas Garron) Notation A letter by itself (e.g. F) means turn that face 90 degrees clockwise with respect to the center of the cube. A letter with an apostrophe (F') denotes a 90 degree counter-clockwise turn. A letter followed by the number 2 (F2) denotes 2 turns, i.e.
• Scramble the cube and try to solve to this point in under 5 minutes. Can you do it??? When you can, then you may proceed. And it means you have accomplished the hardest part of solving a Rubik’s cube. Smooth sailing from here on out. “I can complete step 4 in under 5 minutes. I’m ready for the next step!”.
• To solve the Megaminx first you need to know how to solve the Rubik's Cube because the methods of the two puzzles are very similar. There are a few steps where you might get stuck but the algorithms below will help you go through the difficulties. Let's use the same FRU notation that you are probably familiar with. Each letter means a clockwise.
• The Rubik’s cube—a 3x3x3 cube of mixed colored blocks—has been perplexing users since it was created in the 1970s. Solving it is difficult enough, but 'speedcubers,' or those who solve the cube at breakneck speeds, have renewed interest in how to solve a Rubik’s cube for people around the world.

Step 1: Shuffle

The first step to solving your rubiks cube is to shuffle the cube. This means that you mix it up so that you can solve it. Before we continue, you need to know how to read an algorithm.

Here is how:

L is for moving the left face clockwise,

L' is for moving the left face counterclockwise.

U is for moving the top face clockwise,

U' is for moving the top face counterclockwise.

R is for moving the right face clockwise,

R' is for moving the right face counterclockwise.

The last one is D for the bottom face clockwise,

D' for the bottom face counterclockwise.

This is an annotation for the rubiks cube.

A good shuffle that I have found is: L' U' L' U' F'. But, you don't have to shuffle it this way to solve the cube, just mix it up pretty good.

Step 2: Solve the First Side Part 1

Now, we have to solve the first side. We do this by first getting a pair of the same color. I like to use white because it is the most stand outish color. You can usually get the pair just by turning once. Afterwards, your cube should look like the picture.

Step 3: Solve the First Side Part 2

Then we have to get the third piece in the top face. The way we do this is to twist the bottom half and put it in the right spot like the first picture, and then move it up into the right spot like the second picture.

Step 4: Solve the First Side Part 3

To finish the first side, put the last piece into the right position like the videos.

Step 5: The Ring Algorithm

For this, you will need to know the first algorithm. To start, all you need to do is face the side with the already solved pair away from you like the first picture. Then do the following algorithm, R' D' R L D L' R' D' R. This is using the annotation i showed earlier. BUUUUT....... if your cube doesn't have a pair, like the first picture, take any side and do the algorithm. Then, you will have a pair and continue with the earlier part. Facing the pair away from you and do the algorithm above. Now you will have a ring like the video.

Step 6: Aligning the Top Half Part 1

Now you need to flip the cube so that the solved side is facing down like the picture. Then, all you have to do is twist the top half until one of the corners matches the ring. The corner closest to you is the matched corner because it needs the color yellow on top because it is the opposite of white, blue and red because the ring at the bottom has those colors.

Step 7: Aligning the Top Half Part 2

Now you need to do the next algorithm. Find a corner that is wrong. Face it towards you so that it is in the left half of the front face. Then do this algorithm, L' U' L F U F' L' U L U U. This will flip the corners. Do this until the corners are all in the right spots. It should look like the picture.

Step 8: Orientating the Corners Part 1

Now, this is the last part, and you need to orientate the corners, or flip them through algorithms. This will solve the Rubiks Cube. First, find a solved corner, (it looks like the first picture, and the corner closest to you is the solved corner). Then, put it in the lower left hand corner of the top face this should look like the second picture. DO NOT TWIST ANYTHING TO PUT THE SOLVED CORNER IN THE RIGHT SPOT. JUST MOVE THE CUBE IN YOUR HANDS.

Step 9: Orientating the Corners Part 2

Now you need to do the following algorithm, R U R' U R U U R U U. Then, keep finding the solved corner, and putting it in the lower left hand corner of the top face and repeating this algorithm, and you should end up solving it. BUT............ if your cube looks like the first picture, just choose either of the two corners and put them in the lower left hand corner of the top face and continue like normal. BUT A SECOND TIME........... if your cube looks like the second picture, where it has two already solved corners, putting them in the lower left hand corner of the top face and doing the algorithm will not work. Instead, you need to face them away from you and then continue with the algorithm. BUT FOR A THIRD TIME............. If you cube looks like the third picture, and it doesn't have any solved corners, then you will need to just pick a side and continue solving.

Step 10: Done

YAY! you have now solved your 2 by2 rubiks cube. I hope you all enjoyed this instructable, and were able to solve your cube.

Be the First to Share

Recommendations

• Box Challenge

• Arduino Contest

• Toys & Games Contest

So You Want To Solve A Rubik’s Cube…

You’re in luck! Somehow you’ve stumbled upon the easiest method to solve a cube. Before we begin, you should make sure you’re in the right place.

• This method will NOT make you a speed-solver. (Fastest time with my method is probably about 2 minutes… which is considered really slow in the cubing world)
• This method will NOT be using complex algorithms.
• This method will NOT make you look cool. (Okay, it actually might)

Just tell me how to solve already!!!

So last year, my eight-year-old son handed me a cube and told me to solve it. Of course, I had no clue. Rubik’s cubes are impossible. I went to Youtube and looked at a lot of tutorials. The people on the videos went on and on about just how awesome they were, whipped through a solve, and I still didn’t know what they were doing. I kept shouting, “Just tell me how to solve already!!!”

Finally, I found some videos that were a little slower but… they were still full of complex algorithms.

• Fun Fact:Cubers will always say that they use “complex algorithms” to solve a Rubik’s cube. (Makes them sound smart).
• Advice: After you start showing off your skills using my easy method, people will ask you how you do it. Just tell them you use “complex algorithms.” (They’ll have no clue how easy it is… unless you tell them.)

So… I went through the process… kept pausing the video, trying to figure out what was really going on. Finally, I understood what they were trying to say. Once this happened, I wondered why they didn’t explain it simpler. They were making me memorize algorithms that weren’t necessary and steps that I didn’t need. I just wanted to solve it! So… I came up with my own modifications, taught them to my 8 year-old, and he learned quick!

Tell me like I’m an 8-year-old

My steps go very-very slow. I am going to teach as if you are an 8-year-old. It is slow, but you’ll get the cube solved without having to memorize unnecessary junk. You may have to memorize something… but its the minimum–No fancy frills–just solving. My son is 8. This is how he learned. It’s easy. If he can learn this, you can too.

To help you learn, each section has:

• Text Explanation
• Illustrations With Captions
• Video Demonstration

The Basics

Know What Side You Are On

Look at your cube. Pick a side and then look in the dead center. What color is the middle piece? If the middle piece is red then you are looking at the “red side.” If the center piece was white, you would be on the “white side”. Easy.

Every Side Has A Permanent Opposite Side

Find the red side (that would be the side that has red in the center.) Then look at the opposite side of the cube. What color is in the middle piece on that side? If you said, “orange” you are correct! After a few minutes of looking at different sides, you might notice that you can guess what color is on the other side without even looking. (but you can look if you want.)

The Red side is opposite of the Orange side.

Steps To Solve Rubik's Cube 3x3

(Hot Colors are opposites, that’s awesome!)

The Blue side is opposite of the Green side.

(Cold Colors are opposites, that’s great!)

The White side is opposite of the Yellow side.

Steps To Solve Rubik's Cube

(Daisy Colors are opposites… that’s… girly)

7 Steps To Solve Rubik's Cube

Middle pieces don’t move! And That’s a good thing!

Believe it or not, the middle pieces don’t move. Go ahead, mix it all up. It won’t matter. Blue will still be opposite of green, red will be the opposite of orange, and white will be the opposite of yellow. This makes things a lot easier. If you are looking at the blue side, you can know what the other side is without even looking. There is a 100% chance that the opposite side of the cube is green. Can you solve without knowing this color rule? Yes. But, I think you’ll still find it helpful.

Solve the Cube in Eight Simple Steps

I am going to break this down into eight steps. Don’t Rush! Remember, this isn’t for speed, but ease. If you follow the steps, you WILL solve a Rubik’s cube. (Then you can scratch it off your bucket list and move on to skydiving.)