Definition:Rubik's Cube
Definition
Rubik's cube is a toy consisting of a plastic cube divided into $27$ smaller cubes, interlocking at the center cube and allowing each face to rotate independently of the others.
Each of the $6$ faces of the main cube is colored with one of six contrasting colors. Rotating the faces of the cube causes these $6$ faces to become mixed up.
The object of the exercise is to restore the $6$ faces to their original single colors.
Parts of Rubik's Cube
Faces
The faces of a Rubik's cube are simply the $6$ faces of the main cube which constitutes Rubik's cube.
Subcubes
Each of the $26$ small visible cubes into which Rubik's cube is subdivided is called a subcube.
The $27$th cube is in the interior of Rubik's cube and therefore has no visible faces.
Facets
Each of the $9$ small squares into which the faces of Rubik's cube is subdivided is called a facet.
Types of Facet
Corner Facets
Of each of the $9$ facets of each face of Rubik's cube, the $4$ in the corners of the face are called the corner facets.
The set of corner facets can be denoted $S_C$.
Edge Facets
Of each of the $9$ facets of each face of Rubik's cube, the $4$ on the edges of the face are called the edge facets.
The set of edge facets can be denoted $S_E$.
Center Facets
Of each of the $9$ facets of each face of Rubik's cube, the ones in the centers of the faces are called the center facets.
The set of center facets can be denoted $S_Z$.
Basic Moves
The set of basic moves of the Rubik's cube can be denoted:
- $\set {U, D, L, R, F, B}$
where $U$, $D$, $L$, $R$, $F$, $B$ are in Singmaster notation.
Also see
- Results about Rubik's cube can be found here.
Source of Name
This entry was named for Ernő Rubik.
Sources
- 2008: David Joyner: Adventures in Group Theory (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Where to begin...