People are sharing the love...

I thought I would detour from my postings regarding the Rubik's Cube as an analogy to life to thank my many friends who all sent me copies of a recent article about the wonderful cube.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/every-rubiks-cube-can-be-solved-in-20-moves-or-less/story-e6frfro0-1225904702436

Google scientist have now proven that every combination of the cube can be solved in 20 moves or less. 

I found the article quite interesting because I'm sure there would have been a more simple mathematical way to prove this phenomena using permutations and combinations; as opposed to the trudge work that these google enthusiasts outsourced to their super computers. 

Regardless, it's nice to have some form of evidence that the cube can be solved so readily. 

Perhaps taking this analogy back to the Cube as a model for life...

Certainly, a person could sit there and ponder for hours, calculating the exact 20 (or fewer) moves needed to solve the cube without un-necessary movement.  However, in the time it takes to do that, someone who has trained themselves to systematically solve the cube using various strategies that apply to various mixed up patterns they see in the cube, could have finished the cube and had coffee in the meantime. 

My point?  It may be more practical sometimes to simply work on a problem with a series of strategies than spend forever seeking out the perfect solution, when a bunch of less than perfect solutions combined will get you the same result with some extra manipulation, but less time...  Perhaps I should keep this in mind next time I become a perfectionist in my approach to something. 

Summary:
- The 3X3 Rubik's Cube can always be solved in 20 moves or less
- Using less than perfect strategies with persistence can achieve the same result as the perfect solution.
- Approaching the problem systematically and strategically may actually be faster and more efficient that spending forever trying to work out the shortest possible solution.
- Building skills for solving different parts of the cube will give you a way to solve the cube no matter how it has been messed up.
- The shortest possible sequence od moves needed to solve the cube will change depending on how the cube was messed up. 
- Skill building is essential for have a guaranteed method for solving the cube and living life!

(c) Arlene Taylor 2010