3x3x3 cube facts and solving instructions

Rubik's Cube (initially known as the "Magic Cube" in Hungarian, bűvös kocka) is a mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 (patented in 1975) by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Ernő Rubik.

The puzzle consists of a plastic cube 3×3×3 (in its original form) with 54 visible colored stickers. The faces of this large cube can be rotated around three internal axes of the cube. The player's goal is to "solve the Rubik's Cube" by rotating the cube's faces to return it to its original state, with each face composed of squares of the same color.

The name "Rubik's Cube" is used in most languages around the world, except for German and Chinese, where the original name "Magic Cube" (German: Zauberwürfel; Chinese: 魔方 [mó fāng]) remains common, as well as in Hebrew, where it is referred to as the "Hungarian cube" (Hebrew: קובייה הונגרית).

The CFOP method (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL) is a popular speedcubing method for solving the Rubik's Cube. It was invented by Jessica Fridrich in the 1980s and later popularized by Feliks Zemdegs, a renowned speedcuber. The method is widely used among speedcubers for its efficiency in solving the cube quickly. Here's a brief overview of each step in the CFOP method:

1. **Cross:** The first step involves solving a cross on one face of the cube using the colors of the edge pieces. This provides a reference point for solving the rest of the layers.

2. **F2L (First Two Layers):** In this step, the solver aims to complete the first two layers by pairing up corner and edge pieces and placing them in their correct positions.

3. **OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer):** This step focuses on orienting all the pieces in the last layer (the top layer) so that they match a specific pattern. This is done without changing the positions of the pieces on the last layer.

4. **PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer):** The final step involves permuting the pieces on the last layer to complete the cube. This step is aimed at rearranging the pieces without affecting their orientation.

The CFOP method employs efficient algorithms for each step, allowing cubers to solve the cube more quickly compared to other methods. Speedcubers often memorize and practice these algorithms to improve their solving times.