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Four-Dimensional Rubik's Cube Craziness

roice writes "Rubik's junkies and puzzlers will be interested in this software rendered four-dimensional analog of Rubik's Cube. With over 1.75E120 possible combinations, it's a mind bender. Free versions are available for both Windows and Linux, and they even publish their source code for download. Solving it will get your name listed in their Hall Of Fame, and there is also a running competition for the most efficient solution. To help get you started, you can check out a solution algorithm based on techniques used to solve the popular three-dimensional version."

29 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. Great. by inertia187 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Heck with solving it. There are some things that just aren't worth solving. Now where can I find a software rendered four dimensional analog of a hammer and nail?

    --
    A programmer is a machine for converting coffee into code.
    1. Re:Great. by YoungFelon · · Score: 5, Funny

      instead of greasing it to make it go faster, you ad space-time fabric softener.

  2. nooo by marvy666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    it took me long enough to finish the real thing.

    1. Re:nooo by Oscar_Wilde · · Score: 2, Funny

      Right. So you get a blank cube and a set of stickers...

      Why are the Do-it-yourself instructions needed?

      Hmm, who are these people who open the box and say "What no directions?! How will I tell which yellow sticker goes where?"

  3. Not interested... by rosewood · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't even figure out the regular one. Hell, I am lucky I can tie my shoelaces in the morning!

    1. Re:Not interested... by ari_j · · Score: 4, Funny

      You sound like you could borrow my Rubik's Square. It only took me about half an hour to solve, once I realized that all the squares are the same color.

    2. Re:Not interested... by k-0s · · Score: 2, Funny

      There's your problem...a Rubik's cube isn't to be used to tie your shoes. Pshhh some people.

  4. Technique number one by RLiegh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apply a screwdriver to it; reassemble in the proper order.

    Um, though that may be a little hard with the program, I'll admit.

    Maybe if I apply the screwdriver to the ~~++5#Q%NO CARRIER

    1. Re:Technique number one by ewhac · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's a violation of your End-User License Agreement and the DMCA.

      Please lie face down on the ground, with your legs and arms apart. BSA agents will be arriving shortly to take you into custody.

      Schwab

    2. Re:Technique number one by nitekrow · · Score: 3, Funny

      Here's a solving technique that works everytime: Simply twist and turn the cube until all sides match up. No additional tools required or embarassing adhesive related situations to deal with...

  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  6. thats an easy one by becktabs · · Score: 5, Funny

    and there is also a running competition for the most efficient solution.

    duh...just peel off the stickers.

    1. Re:thats an easy one by Aliencow · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wouldn't that be a violation of the DMCA ?

  7. Umm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can someone plz send me a link to a trainer for this. Thx. also no-cd version much appericated.

  8. *Four* dimensional Rubiks Cube? by The+Cydonian · · Score: 4, Funny

    What, you have to step into the future to solve it? :-D

    1. Re:*Four* dimensional Rubiks Cube? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Most slashdot readers don't know about in and out...

  9. Be pepared... by LeiGong · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just a word of warning to the foolish and brave. Before you tackle the 4^4 hypercube, make sure you buy an ergonomic mouse and mousepad. My guess is you'll probably develop super-carpal tunnel syndrome before you even you match one side of the damn cube. Also be sure to stockpile a few extra mouses, there's no knowing how many of them you'll be throwing against the wall.

  10. When I was a kid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I memorized the solutions to the Rubik's Cube so everyone would think I was smart! Haha, fooled them!

    Now I just get drunk and masturbate a lot.

  11. Re:Lego Solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ahhhhhhhh!

    It's LEGO, not LEGO's, not Lego's, not lego's, not lEGO's, not leGO's, not legO's, not lego'S, not LeGo's, not lEgO'S.

    It's not LEGOS, legos, LEGOS'.. ITS LEGO

    "I have one LEGO, I have two LEGO, I have many LEGO. I enjoy playing with LEGO"

    1 LEGO = LEGO
    2 LEGO = STILL LEGO

    No farking S!!

    Ok I feel better now. :)

  12. Most efficient solution by anon*127.0.0.1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    1) Click OPTIONS
    2) Click SOLVE

    Two clicks... anyone do better?

    --
    I am NOT a man!
    I am a free number!
    1. Re:Most efficient solution by fidget42 · · Score: 5, Funny
      1) Click OPTIONS
      2) Click SOLVE

      Two clicks... anyone do better?
      Umm..
      3) PROFIT?
      --
      The dogcow says "Moof!"
  13. No it won't by Rhinobird · · Score: 2, Funny

    Um, though that may be a little hard with the program, I'll admit.


    No it won't, we just have to wait for someone to come up with a software implimented 4 dimensional hammer...there's probably already one written for emacs...

    --
    If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
  14. Re:damn it.... by hawkstone · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe somebody subjected you to one of my favorite old tricks. Take one corner off of a solved cube and rotate it so that the colors don't match the rest of the cube. Reassemble in this orientation. Presto: unsolveable cube.

    Kinda funny -- I've inadvertently subjected myself to this same trick as a child. It always took so long to scramble the thing, it was easier to take it apart and put it back together in random order. Little did I realize there was a very good chance of creating an unsolvable cube.

    Furthermore, I went so far as to buy a "how to solve the rubik's cube" book. Followed every goddamn step in that thing, and was pissed when it wasn't working. Eventually I tried it on my sibling's and it worked, and I came to the conclusion that mine was defective. Not sure how long it took me to figure out how mine became defective, but the blame was fully mine. :)

    Gotta say, trying to solve an unsolveable puzzle sure kept me busy. It may have gotten my frustration tolerance up high enough that I can stand to debug those really nasty programs....

  15. Re:damn it.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Geez, now you tell me...

    I thought I was a moron. Months of trying to solve it, then giving up and buying the book, then spending months trying to understand the book.... never success...

    I could have saved a year of my childhood!

    All because i was too lazy to just scramble it properly!

    Or, maybe I am just a moron.

  16. SOLVE it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Stuff that, I'm having trouble enough reading the
    black text upon the black background.

  17. Ok, where's the 5D and 6D? by vfwlkr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Heck, It was just too easy.. solved it in less than a minute.

    But I won't submit my entry into the hall of fame, otherwise the FBI will come looking for this "human computer" that can perform 10^30 trops, and exceeds export regulations :P

    --
    If you're not using firefox, you're not surfing the web, you're suffering it.
    ---
  18. Re:damn it.... by xA40D · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe somebody subjected you to one of my favorite old tricks. Take one corner off of a solved cube and rotate it so that the colors don't match the rest of the cube. Reassemble in this orientation. Presto: unsolveable cube.

    Way back in the mists of time I tried that on my school's Rubik's wizard. I took three pieces and rotated them. Gave it to the wizard and waited. Five minutes later he returned the almost complete cube, pointing out the _one_ piece he was unable to get right as it had been rotated.

    --
    Do you mind, your karma has just run over my dogma.
  19. 1-D Rubik's Cube! by pyrote · · Score: 5, Funny

    I found this great 1-D Rubik's Cube, here, I can embed it here on this page:

    .

    The interface is simple: just look at it. Quantum mechnaics dictates that observing it changes it's state so just assume it's solved.

    Here is a magnified version:

    .

    If you still have trouble with it, my book will be coming out pretty soon.

    --
    THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!! eventually.
  20. Re:Lego Solution by JSR+$FDED · · Score: 2, Funny

    > It's not LEGOS, legos, LEGOS'.. ITS LEGO

    It's not "ITS", it's "IT'S".