Wednesday, February 08, 2006

On the lighter side

A New Upper Bound on Rubik's Cube Group
Silviu Radu

The Rubik Cube has had more success inhabiting pop consciousness than any other big discrete object. I never got really good at it myself; I could solve one side perfectly well, but that's no big achievement. I suppose my ability to hold parallel data in my head has improved in the past 15 years, but I doubt that would be the best use of my time and mental energy. It truly is a mathematical gift that keeps on giving.

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