Solve 2x2 Rubik's cube

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Notation

There are six notations for:

L

Left

R

Right

U

Up

D

Down

F

Front

B

Back

In these if the notations are same as above then we need to rotate clock-wise. Assume clock to be present on the floor, on the wall on the left and on the wall on the front. Accordingly calculate clockwise for both U/D (Clock on floor), L/R (Clock on left wall) and F/B (Call on wall in front of you)

For anti-clockwise the letterss are L', R', U', D', F' and B'

If something is repeated then we use x. For example to rotate up clockwise twice we will use Ux2

Solving the cube

To solve 2x2 Rubik's cube use following steps / stages:

Stage 1 - After this all four white squares should be on top

1. Arrange the top layer of 2x2 Rubik cube to have three white squares as shown below:

   |-------+-------|
   | White | White |
   |-------+-------|
   | White |       |
   |-------+-------|

   To get to above stage you need to figure out the steps.

2. If you can get all four white also on your own then no need to follow the below formula. If you are able to get only three whites and need help with fourth then:
   1. Once all the three white as are shown above, the fourth white should be below the non-white square at one of the three bottom places. If this statement is confusion, please refer to the youtube video linked below for clarity.
   2. One fourth white is at one of the three places we can use:

      R', D, R, D'

      if required repeatedly till all four pieces on top are white

Stage 2 - Matching colors at top side below white on all four sides

Once we have all four pieces as white on top after every stage / steps completion those four white should remain as it is. If we dont have four whites together after completing any given set of steps then we are going wrong somewhere.

To get all top (Only top 2 squares on each side and not bottom two squares) below white on four sides of matching color use:

1. If there are any two matching squares ideally that side should face away from us.
2. Then use:

   R', D, R, L', D', L, R', D, R

3. if required repeatedly till all four sides top colors are matching.

Stage 3 - Matching colors on side opp to white, typically with yellow color

To get 4 yellow squares on side opposite to white use:

1. Reverse the cube so that white is at bottom

   Now in future steps the matching colors on bottom and all four whites on bottom should always be there at end of every completed step. If those are not correct then we have gone wrong somewhere.

2. If the new top side has no yellow squares then proceed normally.
3. If the new top side has one yellow square it should be at bottom-left as shown below:

   |--------+---|
   |        |   |
   |--------+---|
   | Yellow |   |
   |--------+---|

   Rotate Up (U) as required to achieve above position of single yellow square before you proceed further.

4. If the new top has two Yellow adjacent to each other they should be as shown below:

   |---+--------|
   |   | Yellow |
   |---+--------|
   |   | Yellow |
   |---+--------|

   Rotate Up (U) as required to achieve above position of two yellow squares before you proceed further.

5. In case there are two yellow squares which are diagonal to each other

   |--------+--------|
   |        | Yellow |
   |--------+--------|
   | Yellow |        |
   |--------+--------|

6. If you see three yellow at top then Rubik cube is not correct. We need to fix the cube itself otherwise it wont solve at all.
7. Once yellow at top are positioned as explained above by rotating only Up (U), use below

   R, U, R', U, R, Ux2, R'

   if required repeatedly till we have all yellow squares on top.

Stage 4 - Fully solved cube

For this keeping yellow at top and white at bottom (and any completely matched face on side opposite to us, if any) use repeatedly till solved:

R', F, R', B'x2, R, F', R, B'x2, Rx2, B'x2

We may have to rotate U or D once after above steps for colors to align.

When we do this the solved white, matching colors near white and solved yellow should not be impacted.

Refer:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCn8TajrPqc

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