Math game 1 updated

Here is the updated version of math game 1. Hooray!

Math game one

Enjoy

Rubik's Cube

Do you know what a rubik's cube is? Well, it is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.

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The Mathematics in it:

The original (3×3×3) Rubik's Cube has eight corners and twelve

edges. There are 8! (40,320) ways to arrange the corner cubes.

Seven can be oriented independently, and the orientation of the eighth depends on the

preceding seven, giving 37 (2,187) possibilities. There are 12!/2 (239,500,800) ways to arrange

the edges, since an odd permutation of the corners implies an odd permutation of the edges as

well. Eleven edges can be flipped independently, with the flip of the twelfth depending on the

preceding ones, giving 211 (2,048) possibilities.

There are exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possibilities, which is approximately forty-three

quintillion!!! Can you believe that??

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-Algorithms

In Rubik's cubists' parlance, a memorised sequence of moves that has a desired effect on the cube is called an algorithm. This terminology is derived from the mathematical use of algorithm, meaning a list of well-defined instructions for performing a task from a given initial state, through well-defined successive states, to a desired end-state. Each method of solving the Rubik's cube employs its own set of algorithms, together with descriptions of what the effect of the algorithm is, and when it can be used to bring the cube closer to being solved.

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P.S. "!" means factorial.

1 Factorial= 1

2 Factorial= 1x2

3 Factorial= 1x2x3

4 Factorial= 1x2x3x4

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More information on factorial

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Anyway to those who know how to solve the Rubik's Cube, please post your fastest timing here. Thanks!

Regards,

This Math Team