Why isn't there an easy way to solve the Rubik's cube?

Answer 1

The short answer is that there IS an easy way to solve it. The question is only whether or not you have the patience to memorize the algorithms (set moves that move the pieces in a specific way). There are ways to solve it that don't use algorithms, such as the Heisse Method, but they are typically more advanced solve methods and unsuitable for beginners.

I won't go into the details on what the algorithms are because you can get them on YouTube or on other websites easily enough. But I will describe the types of algorithms you will need. The bare minimum number of algorithms a person needs to know to solve a cube is 5. This is because there are 5 types of operations you can perform with a cube.

First, there are essentially three parts to solving a rubik's cube, and this applies to cubes from as small as 3x3x3 to as large as 50x50x50. There are the centers, the edges, and the corners. Each part is a separate puzzle on it's own and should be treated as such. Solving the centers is not a problem for the 3x3x3 because there is only one center piece and it never moves no matter how much you turn the cube because they are the axes of rotation. So you don't have to solve the center until you start working on 4x4x4 or larger.

The Edges are usually next to go. On 4x4x4 and larger you must assemble the edges but for a 3x3x3 they are already assembled since they are only one piece to an edge so you need your first algorithm to move the center pieces from one position to another. For best results use an algorithm that moves as few pieces as possible at a time (minimum possible is 3) and doesn't move any other pieces on the entire cube. Just memorize the pattern of moves in the algorithm and know how they move the pieces. Then you are essentially just putting the pieces into the right place one piece at a time based on matching the colors to the center pieces. This is called permuting the edges. It's really that simple if you know the algorithms, and that's just rote memorization, anyone can do it if they really try to.

The next algorithm you need to know is how to twist the edges so they have the correct color on the correct side. This is called orienting the edges. You can solve all of the edges at the same time, and then move on to the corners.

If you must permute the edges and orient the edges, then you logically must also permute and orient the corners as well giving us a full 4 algorithms that we must know. Since the basic algorithms don't affect any other pieces than the ones you are moving, these can be handled as two separate and unrelated puzzles. For a 3x3x3 cube most people find solving the corners first the easiest, but you can solve it with edges first too.

Every now and then you will encounter what is called a parity. According to the laws of the cube (which describes what moves are mathematically possible to perform), it is impossible to have any state that requires an odd number of swaps to solve. What this means is that it is impossible to swap two pieces and two pieces only, but that's okay because it is a scenario that is impossible to occur on the cube anyway. However, the corners and edges are two separate puzzles of the same cube, so it IS possible to have an odd swap for the edges when paired with an odd swap for the corners as well. This means that you will need to know a fifth algorithm to handle the parity issue by swapping two corners and two edges at the same time.

And that's it. You can find the algorithms all over the internet, and there are also many other different methods of solving the cube. But all you really need to know to figure it out is 5 algorithms: Permute the Edges, Orient the Edges, Permute the Corners, Orient the Corners, and a Parity Move. After you memorize 5 algorithms (which often are simple moves) then you only have to move one piece at a time until the cube is solved. If you have the patience to learn the algorithms then you should be able to solve the cube in about 3 to 5 minutes.