Solving the Rubik’s® 2x2 Cube http://tinyurl.com/Rubiks2x2

There’s more than 1 Rubik’s® Cube.

Getting to know the 2x2 Just like on the classic 3x3, when the cube is solved, The faces have the same notation as well.

Each turn is 900 clockwise. Handle Jar or lightbulb Doorknob or lock The objects provide some mental imagery for users so that they turn the correct face when needed. I’ve found that cuing the image makes a difference.

i means inverse. Ri is a counter- clockwise 900 turn of the right face.

Be mindful of how you hold the cube We begin with the logo on the UP, LEFT, FRONT corner. As we solve the cube this will change. It will be important for another corner cubie or cublet to be in that position. Placing the cube on a table may help with keeping the cube in the correct position.

Solving the First Layer We’re going to make the UP face WHITE and, at the same time, match the top layer colors on each lateral face or side.

Find the other corner with BLUE & WHITE. What color is the 3rd face? Place the corner in the DOWN, RIGHT, FRONT corner. You might have the BLUE or other color face on the FRONT. It doesn’t matter. Now follow these steps. Repeat the steps until WHITE on the UP face and the BLUE is on the FRONT face. The third face will be ORANGE.

Be mindful of how you hold the cube In some stages of solving, you have to rotate or flip the entire cube. This is one of those times. Rotate the entire cube 900 clockwise so that the logo is in the UP, LEFT, BACK position.

Place that corner in the DOWN, RIGHT, FRONT position. Find the corner with the WHITE & ORANGE faces. What color is the 3rd face? Place that corner in the DOWN, RIGHT, FRONT position. Now here’s the challenge - don’t “mess up” the 2 WHITE BLUE corners. If the WHITE ORANGE GREEN corner is on the UP face, a R turn will put it on the DOWN layer. One might need to make a D or Di turn to place the corner in the correct position.

Find the corner with the WHITE & ORANGE faces Find the corner with the WHITE & ORANGE faces. What color is the 3rd face? Follow the same 4 steps you used for the other corner until the WHITE ORANGE GREEN corner is in the correct position - WHITE face UP, ORANGE face FRONT. If the WHITE ORANGE GREEN corner is on the UP face, a R turn will put it on the DOWN layer. One might need to make a D or Di turn to place the corner in the correct position.

See the pattern? Rotate the entire cube Position the next corner Follow the steps If the 4th corner is in the UP FRONT RIGHT but the wrong orientation, just follow the steps.

Be mindful of how you hold the cube Congratulations on completing the first layer! Now, flip the cube so that WHITE is DOWN.

Looking at the UP face only, do you have It doesn’t matter which corners the tiles are in. You just care about how many YELLOW tiles you have on the UP face. Looking at the UP face only, do you have No YELLOW tiles? 1 YELLOW tile? 2 YELLOW tiles?

Be mindful of how you hold the cube! Looking at the UP face only, do you have ... No YELLOW tiles? 1 YELLOW tile? 2 YELLOW tiles? YELLOW tile on LEFT side Doesn’t matter where YELLOW tiles are on the sides. The 1 UP YELLOW must be in this corner. YELLOW tile on FRONT side Follow these steps once. In the 3rd situation, it doesn’t matter where the 2 YELLOW tiles are on the UP face.

Be mindful of how you hold the cube! You may need to turn the entire cube to match one of these situations again on the UP face. No YELLOW tiles? 1 YELLOW tile? 2 YELLOW tiles? YELLOW tile on LEFT side Doesn’t matter where YELLOW tiles are on the sides. The 1 UP YELLOW must be in this corner. YELLOW tile on FRONT side Once the cube is matched to one of the 3 situations, repeat the steps. Do this until the UP face is all YELLOW.

Are we there yet? Look at the sides of your cubes. Can you rotate the YELLOW UP layer until all the sides are solid colors like this? YEAH!!!

Are we there yet? You might need to turn the UP layer to match one these. Either you have 2 adjacent corners that are not in the right position Or you have diagonal corners that are not in the right position Match your cube to one of these positions. The matching adjacent cubes should be in the BACK. The matching diagonal cubes should be in the BACK, RIGHT and the FRONT, LEFT.

Be mindful of how you hold the cube. This should do it! You may not need this last turn.

You CAN Solve the Cube! YEAH!!!