Painting Rubik
Short answer: First sold as the Magic Cube in Budapest in 1977, the Rubik's Cube became the world's best-selling toy, with about 500 million sold by January 2024. Its 43 quintillion possible positions can all be solved in 20 moves or fewer, a limit proved in 2010 with computing time from Google.
What should you know about Painting Rubik?
Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.
Ernő Rubik, 1974.
54 squares.
Video transcript: Painting Rubik: Rubik's Cubes Are Usually Colored With Stickers or Plastic Tiles, Not Paint
Did you know? Rubik's cubes are not typically painted. Instead, their colored faces are created using stickers or plastic tiles. Early versions of the Rubik's Cube used adhesive vinyl stickers in six distinct colors, applied to each of the 54 square facets. These stickers could peel or fade over time, so modern Rubik's Cubes often feature colored plastic tiles that are more durable and integrated into the cube's design. NOW YOU KNOW!
Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 21.4s Reel ·
The write-up
The colored squares are the least of the Rubik's Cube's surprises: the puzzle had a precursor, a mathematical limit that took decades to prove, and sales on a scale no other toy has matched.
- Exhibit A
43 quintillion positions
A standard cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible arrangements, about 43 quintillion.
- Exhibit B
God's number
In July 2010 a team including Tomas Rokicki, using computers provided by Google, proved that any position can be solved in at most 20 moves.
- Exhibit C
Best-selling toy
Around 500 million cubes had been sold worldwide by January 2024, making it the world's best-selling puzzle game and toy.
- Exhibit D
A magnetic precursor
Larry Nichols patented a magnet-held 2×2×2 'Puzzle with Pieces Rotatable in Groups' in April 1972, two years before Rubik invented his cube.
- Exhibit E
The Magic Cube
Originally called the Magic Cube (bűvös kocka), the first test batches went on sale in Budapest toy shops in late 1977.
Questions people ask about Painting Rubik
Who invented it?
Hungarian.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (A magnetic precursor) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
When?
1970s.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (43 quintillion positions) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
How many facets?
6 x 9.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (43 quintillion positions) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
Classic coloring?
Peel off.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (43 quintillion positions) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
Modern cubes often use?
Stickerless.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Best-selling toy) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
Test Your Knowledge
All quizzes →5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.
Who invented it?
- Ernő Rubik
- Erno Rubik's son
- Hasbro
- Nintendo
Show the answer
Answer: A. Ernő Rubik Hungarian. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (A magnetic precursor) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
When?
- 1974
- 1990
- 1955
- 2001
Show the answer
Answer: A. 1974 1970s. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (43 quintillion positions) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
How many facets?
- 54
- 36
- 64
- 27
Show the answer
Answer: A. 54 6 x 9. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (43 quintillion positions) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
Classic coloring?
- Vinyl stickers
- Paint
- Dye
- Glass
Show the answer
Answer: A. Vinyl stickers Peel off. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (43 quintillion positions) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
Modern cubes often use?
- Colored plastic
- Wood
- Metal
- Paper
Show the answer
Answer: A. Colored plastic Stickerless. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Best-selling toy) · Wikipedia: Rubik's Cube
Cite this case file
Easterling, Marcus. "Painting Rubik." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-442, last updated Dec 29, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/painting-rubik/
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