How do you solve Rubik's Magic?
competition/games/rubiks/rubiks.magic Added material
Problem
How do you solve Rubik's Magic?
Show solution
The solution is in a 3x3 grid with a corner missing.
+---+---+---+ +---+---+---+---+
| 3 | 5 | 7 | | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
+---+---+---+ +---+---+---+---+
| 1 | 6 | 8 | | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
+---+---+---+ +---+---+---+---+
| 2 | 4 | Original Shape
+---+---+
To get the 2x4 "standard" shape into this shape, follow this:
1. Lie it flat in front of you (4 going across).
2. Flip the pair (1,2) up and over on top of (3,4).
3. Flip the ONE square (2) up and over (1).
[Note: if step 3 won't go, start over, but flip the entire original shape
over (exposing the back).]
4. Flip the pair (2,4) up and over on top of (5,6).
5. Flip the pair (1,2) up and toward you on top of (blank,4).
6. Flip the ONE square (2) up and left on top of (1).
7. Flip the pair (2,4) up and toward you.
Your puzzle won't be completely solved, but this is how to get the shape.
Notice that 3,5,6,7,8 don't move.
Additional material
[ Editor: the entry above only gets the puzzle into the solved shape.
The following complete guide (posted September 1996) goes from the
starting 2x4 position to the solved position. ]
Jeff's Guide to solving the Rubik's Magic-8
key:
FOLTR=flip over left to right
over= put x/y squares on top of a/b squares (covers them)
back=opposite of over
I recommend getting some labels and sticking them on for the first
time, so you can follow along with the numbers on your magic. my 3-d
drawings have a vantage point of above and to the right of the rubiks
magic. In my ascii drawings, squares are often covered, but it
doesnt show up on the drawing (since its 2d). if you get done with a
step and it doesnt seem to be correct, rotate it or flip it over to see
if you can line up with my numbers before continuing.
step -1 -- initial)
__ __ __ __
|1 |2 |3 |4 | (front)
|__|__|__|__|
|5 |6 |7 |8 |
|__|__|__|__|
step 0) FOLTR, FOLTR. We look at the other side, then flip it back over.
nothing has changed.
__ __ __ __
|4B|3B|2B|1B| (back)
|__|__|__|__|
|8B|7B|6B|5B|
|__|__|__|__|
1) (1&5)--over-->(2&6)
__ __ __
|1B|3 |4 | (front)
|__|__|__|
|5B|7 |8 |
|__|__|__|
2) (4&8)--over-->(3&7), FOLTR
__ __ __ __
|1B|4B| |3B|2B|
|__|__| |__|__|
|5B|8B| |7B|6B|
|__|__| |__|__|
3) (3B&2B)--unfold to become-->(3&2)
__ __
|3 |2 |
|__|__|
|4 |1 |
|__|__|
|7B|6B|
|__|__|
4) (7B&6B)--behind-->(8&5)
__ __
|3 |2 |
|__|__|
|4 |1 |
|__|__|
|8 |5 |
|__|__|
5) FOLTR, (6)--over-->(7), FOLTR
__ __ __ __ __ __
|2B|3B| |2B|3B| |3 |2 |
|__|__| |__|__| |__|__|
|1B|4B| |1B|4B| |4 |1 |
|__|__| |__|__| |__|__|
|6 |7 | |5B|6B| |8 |5 |
|__|__| |__|__| |__|__|
6) (8&7B)--over-->(4), FOLTR
__ __ __ __
|3 |2 | |2B|3B|
|__|__| |__|__|
|7 |1 | |1B|4B|
|__|__| |__|__|
|6 |5 | |5B|6B|
|__|__| |__|__|
7) (4B&8)--over-->(3B), FOLTR
__ __ __ __
|2B|8B| |3 |2 |
|__|__| |__|__|
|1B|7B| |7 |1 |
|__|__| |__|__|
|5B|6B| |6 |5 |
|__|__| |__|__|
8) (3)--over-->(2)
__ __
|4B|3B|
|__|__|
|7 |1 |
|__|__|
|6 |5 |
|__|__|
8) (4B&3B)--under-->(8&2)
__ __
|8 |2 |
|__|__|
|7 |1 |
|__|__|
|6 |5 |
|__|__|
[ Editor: the original numbers two consecutive steps 8. ]
9) push outside edges of (8&2) toward each other while pulling down
between (3B&4B). Here is what it should look like on each side:
__ __ __ __
|2 |3 | |4 |8 |
|__|__| |__|__|
|1 | |7 |
|__| |__|
|5 | |6 |
|__| |__|
10) pull (7&1) away from each other as far as possible. this should
cause (4&3) to flatten, and (6&5) to form a "roof". this is 3-d,
so it is hard to show:
_______ _______
/_6_/__5/| /_5_/__6/| *=7B
|*| |1| |x|_____|7| x=1B
|/|_ ___|/| |/|3B |y|/| y=4B
|~4 | 3 |2| |2|___|_|8|
|___|___|/ |/ |/
11) now push between (6&5) to make a crease, then push (7&1) so they
are flat. you should be able to see (5B&6B) inside. straighten
them so they are at a 90 degree angle to (7&1). again, 3-d:
_______ _______
/_7_/__1/| /_1_/__7/| *=6B..on the other side is 5B
8-->| 4 | 3 |2| 2-->|x|y|*|z|8| x=2B
|___|___|/ |/ ~|/ ~|/ y=3B
z=4B
12) keeping (5B&6B) straight, pull (8&2) and (4&3) together. this should
unfold (5&6). (7&1) is the top. straighten (5&6) so it is parallel
to (7&1). turn it over or rotate it so that it looks like one of the
following.
__ __ __ __
|8B|4B| |3B|2B|
|__|__| |__|__|
|7B|1B| |7B|1B|
|__|__| |__|__|
|6B|5B| |6B|5B|
|__|__| |__|__|
13) pull (4B&3B) up at a 90 degree angle to the rest.
__ __
|8B*2B| * this is where (3B&3B) is, sticking in the air
|__*__|
|7B|1B|
|__|__|
|6B|5B|
|__|__|
[ Editor: "(3B&3B)" is as in the original; from the first line of the
step, (4B&3B) is probably meant. ]
14) ok.. this move is rather complicated. I will try to mention what
is happening. (6B&5B) need to stay hinged for you to be able to
pull this off. first, bend (8B/7B)&(2B/1B) down away from (4B&3B).
dont pull them too far or (6B&5B) will try to separate. In the
hole you just made in the center, push 4B&3B into it, so that
4 touches 8, and 2 touches 3. lay it on its side so it looks
like the following:
__ __
|8B| |2B|
|__| |__|
|7B| |1B| (this is the other side, but it should be FOLTR
|__| |__| so it looks like the lefthand drawing)
|6B| |5B|
|__| |__|
15) (8B)--over-->(7B)
__
|4 |
|__|
|8 |
|__|
|6B|
|__|
16) (4&8)--unfold to the left, FOLTR.
__ __ __ __
|4B|3B| |2B|4 |
|__|__| |__|__|
|8B|7B| |1B|8 |
|__|__| |__|__|
|6B| |5B|
|__| |__|
17) (2B&1B&5B)--unfold to the left, FOLTR
__ __ __ __ __ __
|2 |3 |4 | |4B|3B|2B|
|__|__|__| |__|__|__|
|1 |7 |8 | |8B|7B|1B|
|__|__|__| |__|__|__|
|5 |6 | |6B|5B|
|__|__| |__|__|
18) yippee! we did it (rotated)
/\/\ Rubiks Magic is solved.
/\/\/\
\/\/\/
\/\/
\/
-- Jeffry Johnston <jeffryj@azstarnet.com>
[ Editor: a speed solution, rec.puzzles, July 1994. ]
Well, somebody asked for it so I'm going to go ahead and post it here-
this is my own series of moves for solving the Rubik's Magic, with them
my best time for the puzzle was 1.4 seconds, but unfortunately the
strings broke shortly after that. Comments and suggestions (though no
comments about my horrible Ascii art... <grin>) are welcome, and I'm
still interested in knowing what the current world record for this
puzzle is.
Here it comes...
__ __ __ __
1 | || | | | | |
| || | | | | |
___________________
| M | | | |
| /|\ /|\ /|\ |
-- |____|____|____|____| Matchbox symbol in the top left.
| | \|/ \|/ \|/ |
| | up | up | up | up |
| |____|____|____|____|
| |
| |
| |
| |
__ __ __ __
2 | || | | | | |
| || | | | | |
| || | | | | |
___________________
| | | | |
-- | rt | rt | rt | rt | (shift top layer right)
| | | | | |
| |____|____|____|____|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
__ __ __ __
3 | || | | | | |
| || | | | | |
| || | | | | |
| ____ ____ ____ ____
| | | | | |
--\ | | up | up | up | up | ( also turn 90 deg. to right)
| \ | | | | | |
| \| |____|____|____|____|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
__ ____ ____ __
4 | | | || |
| | dn | dn || |
| |____|____| |
| | | | |
| | | | |
--\ | |____|____| | (fold in with tip of fingers on left hand
| \ | | | | | and right thumb)
| \| | | | |
| |____|____| |
| | | | |
| | up | up | |
| |____|____| |
| |
__ __ ___ __
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
5 | ____ ____ |
| | | | |
| | | rt|<-----Flip the two panels underneath on the right side
--\ | |____|____| | around to the front with index, middle, and thumb
| \ | | | | | of right hand. Don't let go of the top panel after
| \| | | rt|<-----this move! Puzzle should look like this from the
| |____|____| | top after this move.
| | /====
| | \====-====\
| | ====/
| |
__ __ ___ __
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
6 | ____ ____ |
| | | | | This move is the hardest, and also the one most
| | A->|HOLD| | likely to break your puzzle if done incorrectly.
--\ | |_|__|__|_| | Holding the TOP EDGE of the panel, the top right
| \ | | | | V | | panel should be folded down, then left, then up,
| \| | <-- | | then right. (in a clockwise circle) Make sure
| |____|____| | each fold is near flat before you do the next fold
| | or the filament holding the thing together will
| | be twisted off the panel. It's best if you flip
| | the top right panel down with your right thumb
| | first and then catch it on the way down and finish
the move. Practice this! (P.S. the A and V in the
diagram are arrows.)
__ _| _|_ __
| | || | | | | |
| | V| | V | | |
7 | ____ ____ |
| | up| up | | Flip the top two panels up and the two left
--->|lf | | | panels in the back out and you have finished the
--\ | |____|____| | puzzle!
| \ | | | | |
| --->|lf | | |
| |____|____| |
| |
| |
| |
Closing Comments- Fluidity is everything! If you can time the moves and
your hands to catch the panel for the following move right as the
previous panel is flipped into position you can keep the momentum going
and keep from breaking the filament around each panel. The turn in
move 3 isn't really necessary if you keep things going through the first
three moves, but make sure you get your fingers out of the way in move
4. Also, move 5 is made easier if you catch the back panels with your
index and middle fingers as the panels are still moving from move 4,
otherwise the puzzle will snap completely flat and slow you down a bit.
Please comment publicly on any errors I have made in these instructions,
as I said in a previous post my own Magic broke a while back and these
moves are all from memory. (though I don't think I could easily forget
them... To my knowledge the only error in these instructions might be
the placement of the little Matchbox logo in the beginning of the
instructions...) I'm still working on a decently fast set of moves for
the Rubik's Magic Master Edition, I'll post them when I get them done.
-- Austin M. Appleby <ik91@jove.acs.unt.edu>