The Rubik’s Cube is one of the world’s most popular and enduring puzzles. Invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor Ernő Rubik, the classic 3×3 Rubik’s Cube has captivated puzzle enthusiasts for over 40 years. With its simple yet confounding mechanics, the Rubik’s Cube quickly became a worldwide phenomenon in the 1980s.
The standard Rubik’s Cube consists of 26 smaller cubes arranged in a 3x3x3 cube. Each of the smaller cube faces can be rotated, twisting the sides of the cube to jumble up the colored stickers on each side. The challenge lies in getting each side of the cube to be a solid color by twisting the sides around. With over 43 quintillion possible configurations but only one solved state, the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube is known as one of the world’s most challenging puzzles.
While the original and most iconic Rubik’s Cube is the 3×3 model, many different size Cubes have been produced over the years. There are 2×2, 4×4, and even 7×7 Cubes, as well as variations like the Rubik’s Tower. This raises the question – what about a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube? Is it possible to have a functional Rubik’s Cube with only one cube?
What is a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube?
A 1×1 Rubik’s Cube would consist of just a single cube piece that can rotate. With only one cube, there would be no other pieces to mix up or arrange. A single stationary cube does not really constitute much of a puzzle.
At first glance, a 1×1 Cube may seem trivial and pointless. However, when considered in the proper context, there are some important points about a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube that make it more interesting than it first appears:
– It would be fully functional – The piece would be able to spin and rotate, fulfilling the technical requirements of a Rubik’s Cube.
– It would be the most “difficult” Cube – With only one configuration possible, a 1×1 Cube would be unsolvable and thus could be considered the most challenging Rubik’s Cube.
– It establishes the lower bounds – Having a functional fixed 1×1 Cube would set the limits on the Rubik’s Cube dimensions.
– It has historical significance – As the natural progression down in size from Ernő Rubik’s original 3×3 invention, the 1×1 Cube has a place in the puzzle’s history.
So while seemingly pointless at first glance, the idea of a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube has some merit when looked at from certain perspectives. It represents the extreme lower bound of the puzzle’s dimensions and also poses an unsolvable and thus “difficult” challenge to would-be solvers.
Has a Functional 1×1 Cube Ever Been Produced?
In the decades since the invention of the Rubik’s Cube, cube sizes have gotten progressively smaller, going from 5×5 to 4×4 to 3×3 to 2×2. It was only natural then that inventors and manufacturers would eventually create a 1×1 model.
In the early 1980s, Ideal Toys, who licensed the Rubik’s Cube from inventor Ernő Rubik, produced what is considered to be the first official 1×1 Rubik’s Cube. It was simply a 1×1 plastic cube that could rotate, fulfilling the basic requirements of a functional Rubik’s Cube.
Other early 1×1 designs also appeared around this time, like the Japanese-made Ezon’s Cube. While some may have considered these 1×1 Cubes to just be novelty items, they showed that a functional single-cube Rubik’s puzzle was indeed possible.
Since those initial 1×1 Rubik’s Cubes over 30 years ago, other manufacturers have created their own versions. These include reproductions made to commemorate Rubik’s Cube anniversaries as well as cheap novelty keychain cubes sold as memorabilia.
Key Milestones in 1×1 Cube History
| 1981 | Ideal Toys produces first licensed 1×1 Cube |
| 1983 | Ezon’s Cube 1×1 released in Japan |
| 1997 | First modern vended 1×1 keychain cube produced |
| 2007 | 1977ibm produces DIY 1×1 kit for Rubik’s 30th anniversary |
| 2014 | Gan releases their Gan356 1×1 cube |
So while often derided as a silly novelty, the 1×1 Rubik’s Cube has a legitimate history with many versions being manufactured and sold over the past four decades. Any cube that is able to rotate in place can be considered a true 1×1 Rubik’s Cube.
Can You Solve a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube?
Given that a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube has just one stationary cube, you may be wondering: can you actually solve it?
Technically, yes – a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube can be solved. However, the solution is trivial since there are no other cube pieces to manipulate. The solved state of a single cube is its default resting state.
To “solve” a 1×1 Cube, you simply look at the cube and see that it is already solved. There are no sequences of turns required and no thinking involved. You just pick up the cube, inspect its current state, and determine it’s already in the solved position.
Some key points regarding solving a 1×1 Cube:
– It can be solved from any starting position – Since there’s only one state, any orientation of the cube counts as “solved”.
– It requires zero algorithms – No memorization or manipulation of the cube is needed.
– It takes zero time – Simply glancing at the cube shows it is already solved.
– It has no configurations – Without multiple cubes that move independently, no configurations or permutations are possible.
So while almost paradoxically unsolvable due to having just one state, the humble 1×1 Rubik’s Cube can be considered solved as soon as you look at it. Of course, most would argue this doesn’t count as truly “solving” the puzzle.
Can You Speed Solve a 1×1 Cube?
Speed cubing, the practice of trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube as quickly as possible, has grown into a competitive event over the past couple decades. Top speed cubers can solve a standard 3×3 Cube in under 5 seconds. But is it possible to speed solve a 1×1 Rubik’s Cube?
In short, no – there is no way to actually speed solve a 1×1 Cube. Since it requires zero turns or sequences to solve, there is nothing to speed up. Simply looking at the cube constitutes solving it as fast as humanly possible.
Some key reasons you cannot speed solve a 1×1 Cube:
– No turning required – Without having to physically manipulate the cube, no speed is needed.
– Instant recognition – It takes no time to see the cube is solved.
– No algorithms or memory – There are no moves to perform or memorize.
– Muscle memory irrelevant – Dexterity with turning the cube provides no advantage.
– Zero configurations – Having just one static state removes all speed challenge.
While speed cubers have set world records solving 2×2 through 7×7 cubes, no amount of practice will let someone solve a 1×1 cube faster than instantly looking at it. The very nature of only having one stationary cube precludes any reasonable definition of speed solving.
Is the 1×1 Cube Useless?
Given its seeming pointlessness and total lack of challenge, some argue the 1×1 Cube is useless as a puzzle and toy. However, there are some counterarguments for why a single-cubed Rubik’s Cube is not entirely without merit:
– It completes the Rubik’s set – As the smallest possible cube, it has a place in Rubik’s Cube history and collectors’ sets.
– It acts as a control – The fact that it trivially solves itself proves Rubik’s Cubes get exponentially harder as they increase in size.
– It illustrates concepts – As a teaching tool, it helps explain basic Rubik’s Cube facts and mechanics.
– It provides enjoyment – Some people simply get a whimsical kick out of owning what appears to be the world’s easiest puzzle.
– It makes a novelty gift – Particularly as a keychain, it can be an amusing novelty present for cube enthusiasts.
So while no one will be intensely challenged by playing with a 1×1 Cube, it does have some legitimate purposes. It acts as a control against which the difficulty of larger cubes can be compared and also serves to complete collections and provide lighthearted novelty.
Conclusion
The 1×1 Rubik’s Cube is an intriguing oddity in the world of twisty puzzles. While completely trivial as an actual puzzle, it still has historical significance in the progression of cube dimensions and mechanics. Solving the 1×1 Cube is as easy as looking at it, yet it technically still meets the definition of a Rubik’s Cube.
No matter how fast you can manipulate or recognize configurations on larger cubes, no human can beat the instant solution time of the single 1×1 cube. While the 1×1 may seem useless and absurdly easy, it still holds merit as the most extreme conceptual example of Ernő Rubik’s magical invention. The humble 1×1 cube will likely forever stand as the smallest and easiest possible version of the Rubik’s Cube.