SOLVING LAST LAYER OF RUBIK CUBE 3x3x3

WITH MINIMUM NUMBER OF FORMULA.

This Article;
Minimum Formula For 3X3X3 Rubik Cube Solution Part 2 - Last Layer Permutation
focus on
1. How to solve the cube without involving the rotation of B, CC and SS.
2. Last Layer solution for beginners
3. To make learners understand without difficulty.

1. 0 PERMUTATION / MOVEMENT OVERVIEW.

I use the Red Face as Front Face - the surface always
facing you while making rotation/permutation.

U U’ R R’ ( Ri) L L’ ( Li )
( Ui ) . .

F F’ ( Fi ) B B’ ( Bi ) D D’ ( Di )
. . .

M M’ ( Mi ) S S’ ( Si ) E E’ ( Ei )
. . .

( DE) ( D’E’
)
2. 0 SOLUTION TIPS FOR FIRST LAYER.

I will not give you the specific formula to solve the first layer ( D ) but the following tips
may useful for you. ( We focus on third layer )

2.1 Define your base colour; white for example.

2.2 Match one of edges; lets say green and white

2.3 Match the center piece of E (green) with the correct edge ( green-white).
That means we lock the E to put the all center pieces of E in correct
position.

2.4 Make “PLUS” white of the base.

The other side of this cube look like this.

2.5 Permutate the corner of base (green-red-white).

2.6 Permutate all of the corners to put them in exact positions.

3. 0 SIMPLE SOLUTION TIPS OF SECOND LAYER.

The following tips may useful for you to solve the second layer;

1. Red face as F ( Front )

2. Green face as F ( Front )

In this stage, I suggest you to use ( DE ) and ( D’E’ ) instead of F and F’

Problem Aim /Target Solution

1. Use RED as F ( facing you )

U R U’ R’

(D’E’) L’ U L

Summary:

U R U’ R’ (D’E’) L’ U L

2. Use GREEN as F ( facing you )

U’ F’ U F

(DE) R U’ R’

Summary:
U’ F’ U F (DE) R U’ R’

Notes : If you are confusing on my diagram, please refer to ( 1.0 ) above.

4.0 SOLVING THIRD LAYER
After completing second layer you may get various thirds layer patterns.
I categorize them as 1/9, 3/9, 4/9, and 9/9

In this stage, I provide you Formula instead of graphics illustration.

4.1 Stage 1 Category 1/9 State 1

Expected top layer

patterns outcomes. , , , , ,

, ,

Each illustration above have basic pattern of 1/9

Category as the shown diagram below;

Target becomes

Concept & Cube

Position

Red is must be F , always facing you )

Formula F U R U’ R’ F’

Permutation Use the above formula until you get the

Stage 2 Category 3/9 V or 3/9 I

Notes
4.2 Stage 1 Category 3/9 State 2

Expected top layer , , , , , ,

patterns outcomes.

, , , , , ,

Each illustration above have basic pattern of 3/9

Category as the shown diagram below;

Target / Focus becomes or

Concept & Cube

Position

Red is must be F , always facing you )

Formula F U R U’ R’ F’

Permutation Use the above formula;

F U R U’ R’ F’ and repeat this formula until
you get the Stage 3 Category 4/9 Plus

Notes 1. You may use the above formula for many times.

2. But sometimes, unexpectedly, you will get the

Stage 4 Category FISH.
4.3 Stage 2 Category 3/9 State 3

Expected top layer , , , , , ,

patterns outcomes.

, , ,

Each illustration above have basic pattern of 3/9

Category as the shown diagram below;

Target becomes or

Concept & Cube

Position

Red is must be F , always facing you )

Formula F R U R’ U’ F’

Permutation Use the above formula;

F R U R’ U’ F’ and repeat this formula until
you get the Stage 3 Category 4/9 Plus

Notes And at this stage, you may get the Stage 4 Category
FISH. It’s wonderful!
4.4 Stage 2 Category 4/9 Plus

Type 1 :

Expected top layer

patterns outcomes
,

Target becomes or

Concept & Cube i) turn to

Position

ii ) turn to

Red is always F , always facing you )

Important : At least one of

match Colours
always facing at
you left hand side
when you hold th cube.

Formula R U R’ U R UU R’

Permutation 1. You can repeat the formula above until you get the
Target Stage 4 Category 6/9 as

You will get this pattern in any incorrect

position.

So,
Adjust it like this pattern and keep using

R U R’ U R UU R’ to reach the final category

of 9/9.

Notes
4.5 Stage 2 Category 8/9

Expected top layer

patterns outcomes
, ,

Target i) becomes

ii) becomes

iii) becomes

Remember, Red is always F , always facing you )

Concept & Cube

Position i) ii) iii)

Formula R U R’ U R UU R’

Permutation Repeat the formula above until you get the Stage 4
Category 9/9

Notes
4.6 Stage 2 Category 6/9 FISH

Expected top layer i) ii)

patterns outcomes

Target i) becomes

ii) becomes

Concept & Cube

Position

Red is always F , always facing you )

Formula R U R’ U R UU R’

Permutation
When this permutated using formula of

R U R’ U R UU R’ , you will get .

So, adjust the cube position as shown below;

Or which Red Face is F, and use

R U R’ U R UU R’ again to gain

Notes If you get different patterns as shown in (i) and (ii)

but they are still 6/9 then simply use that formula
( R U R’ U R UU R’ ) again and again until you
Come to pattern of (i) or (ii).
4.7 Stage 3 Category 9/9 Corners

Sometimes you will get;

( Make Green face as F , always facing you )
Expected top layer
patterns outcomes. (A) (B)

or

Target

To make,

Based on illustration above, you must use the Green face

Concept & Cube as F, surface that always facing you instead of red
Position face.

Formula L’ U R U’ L UU R’ U R UU R’

Permutation For (A ) you will use the formula twice, but

For (B) you just use the formula once.

Notes And at this stage, you may solve the Rubik cube.
It’s fantastic!
4.8 Stage 4 (Final Stage) Category 9/9 Edges

Problem Solution / Permutation

Clockwise (+ve) Y(+ve) Formula : FF U L R’ FF L’ R U FF

i) i) Use Y (+ve) formula twice.

ii) ii) Use Y (+ve) formula once.

Anti-Clockwise (-ve) Y (-ve) Formula : FF U’ L R’ FF L’ R U’ FF

i) i) Use Y (-ve) formula twice.

ii) ii) Use Y (-ve) formula once.

MUM Formula ;

M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2

( can be read as Mx2 U M x2 U x2 M x2 U M x2 )

MUM Formula ;

M2 U M2 U M’ U2 M2 U2 M’ U2

( can be read as Mx2 U M x2 U x2 M x2 U M x2 )

5. SUMMARY

5.1 Summary - The Aim Chart / Summary

Stage 1 or but

F U R U’ R’ F’ F R U R’ U’ F’

Stage 2

R U R’ U R UU R’

Stage 3

L’ U R U’ L UU R’ U R UU R’

FF U’ L R’ FF L’ R U’ FF

Stage 4

FF U L R’ FF L’ R U FF

MM U MM UU MM U MM

M2 U M2 U M’ U2 M2 U2 M’ U2

FINISH
5.2 Summary - List of Practical Minimum Formula (solution for 3 rd Layer).

Briefs Formulae / Steps Diagrams

1. FUR F U R U’ R’ F’

2. FRU F R U R’ U’ F’

3. FISH (F) R U R’ U R UU R’

4. LR L’ U R U’ L U R’

5. LRF L’ U R U’ L UU

Combination R’ U R UU R’
of 4 & 3

6. Y (+ve) Clockwise: Clockwise:

FF U L R’ FF
L’ R U FF

7. Y (-ve) Anti Clockwise: Anti Clockwise:

FF U’ L R’ FF
L’ R U’ FF

8. H M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2

9. D M2 U M2 U M’ U2 M2 U2 M’ U2

Notes : i) L’ U R U’ L UU R’ U R UU R’ - used frequently.

ii) Brief Column above – it’s my idea to make “Life Easier”.
By, JURIM_SARAMBUNG @PUWORK2010