The Rubik’s Cubes in Group Theory

Research Article
Open access

The Rubik’s Cubes in Group Theory

Jialun Yu 1* , Wenxin Li 2
  • 1 Wuhan Britain-China School, Wuhan, China    
  • 2 Yew Wah International Education Schools of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China    
  • *corresponding author 2942550699@qq.com
TNS Vol.5
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-53-9
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-54-6

Abstract

This paper expounds the basic concept of group theory and its application in Rubik’s Cube transformation and restoration formula. The different states of the magic cube are regarded as the elements of the magic cube group, and the set generated by six basic operations is equivalent to the homomorphism of the magic cube group for analysis, from the mathematical characteristics of the permutation group to some practical examples. The collection of possible states of Rubik's Cube is a group, called Rubik's Cube Group, which can be analyzed with the knowledge of group theory. The essence of the magic cube group is the subgroup of the substitution group. There are six basic operations of the magic cube. The combination of basic operations can only produce even pairs of blocks to exchange positions or flip directions at the same time. Therefore, there are some restrictions on the transformation of the magic cube. Some practical examples give some ideas for creating the magic cube formula.

Keywords:

Group theory, Permutation group, Homomorphism, Rubik’s Cubes.

Yu,J.;Li,W. (2023). The Rubik’s Cubes in Group Theory. Theoretical and Natural Science,5,275-281.
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References

[1]. Betsch, G. (2005) “Adventures in group theory: Rubik ’s Cube, Merlin ’s Machine & Other Mathematical Toys,” The Mathematical Intelligencer, 27(2), pp. 92–92. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02985810.

[2]. Cornock, C. (2015) “Teaching group theory using Rubik's Cubes,” International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 46(7), pp. 957–967. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739x.2015.1070442.

[3]. Holt, D.F., Eick, B. and O'Brien, E.A. (2020) Handbook of Computational Group theory. S.l.: CRC PRESS.

[4]. “Introduction to group theory” (2010) Symmetries and Conservation Laws in Particle Physics, pp. 25–46. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1142/9781848167049_0002.

[5]. “Permutation groups: A complexity overview” (2003) Permutation Group Algorithms, pp. 48–54. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511546549.003.

[6]. Atkinson, M.D. (1975) “An algorithm for finding the blocks of a permutation group,” Mathematics of Computation, 29(131), pp. 911–913. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1090/s0025-5718-1975-0367030-3.

[7]. Okamoto, A. (no date) “Group theory visualized through the Rubik’s Cube.” Available at: https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.1001.

[8]. Chen, J. J. (2004). Group theory and the Rubik’s cube.

[9]. Cornell, C. (2018) Rubik's cube: How to solve a Rubik's Cube including Rubik's Cube algorithms. United States.

[10]. El-Sourani, N., Hauke, S. and Borschbach, M. (2010) “An evolutionary approach for solving the Rubik’s cube incorporating exact methods,” Applications of Evolutionary Computation, pp. 80–89. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12239-2_9.


Cite this article

Yu,J.;Li,W. (2023). The Rubik’s Cubes in Group Theory. Theoretical and Natural Science,5,275-281.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Computing Innovation and Applied Physics (CONF-CIAP 2023)

ISBN:978-1-915371-53-9(Print) / 978-1-915371-54-6(Online)
Editor:Marwan Omar, Roman Bauer
Conference website: https://www.confciap.org/
Conference date: 25 March 2023
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.5
ISSN:2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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References

[1]. Betsch, G. (2005) “Adventures in group theory: Rubik ’s Cube, Merlin ’s Machine & Other Mathematical Toys,” The Mathematical Intelligencer, 27(2), pp. 92–92. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02985810.

[2]. Cornock, C. (2015) “Teaching group theory using Rubik's Cubes,” International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 46(7), pp. 957–967. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739x.2015.1070442.

[3]. Holt, D.F., Eick, B. and O'Brien, E.A. (2020) Handbook of Computational Group theory. S.l.: CRC PRESS.

[4]. “Introduction to group theory” (2010) Symmetries and Conservation Laws in Particle Physics, pp. 25–46. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1142/9781848167049_0002.

[5]. “Permutation groups: A complexity overview” (2003) Permutation Group Algorithms, pp. 48–54. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511546549.003.

[6]. Atkinson, M.D. (1975) “An algorithm for finding the blocks of a permutation group,” Mathematics of Computation, 29(131), pp. 911–913. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1090/s0025-5718-1975-0367030-3.

[7]. Okamoto, A. (no date) “Group theory visualized through the Rubik’s Cube.” Available at: https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.1001.

[8]. Chen, J. J. (2004). Group theory and the Rubik’s cube.

[9]. Cornell, C. (2018) Rubik's cube: How to solve a Rubik's Cube including Rubik's Cube algorithms. United States.

[10]. El-Sourani, N., Hauke, S. and Borschbach, M. (2010) “An evolutionary approach for solving the Rubik’s cube incorporating exact methods,” Applications of Evolutionary Computation, pp. 80–89. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12239-2_9.