When the first Rubik’s Cube hit the store shelves in 1974 it became an instant hit. It’s popularity has not waned since. In fact, the opposite is probably true. Through the years people have become obsessed with solving the puzzle in the least number of moves. Some have become very good at it.
Now, a team of mathematicians using computers lent to them by Google, has discovered every possible solution including one that requires 20 moves or less.
In explaining their work the team made up of Google engineer John Dethridge, math teacher Herbert Kociemba, programmer Tomas Rokicki and Morley Davidson of Kent State University said,
“Every solver of the Cube uses an algorithm, which is a sequence of steps for solving the Cube. There are many different algorithms, varying in complexity and number of moves required, but those that can be memorized by a mortal typically require more than forty moves.”
“One may suppose God would use a much more efficient algorithm, one that always uses the shortest sequence of moves; this is known as God’s Algorithm. The number of moves this algorithm would take in the worst case is called God’s Number. At long last, God’s Number has been shown to be 20.”
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