These instructions can be used to solve a 5x5x5 cube, also known as the professor cube due to its difficulty. These directions are a graphical version of those given by Jacob Davenport. I would appreciate any and all feedback or questions about the instructions; please see the end of this page for the e-mail address.
Purchasing Puzzles: If you are having troubles finding stores that sell cubes and similar puzzles, I have a list of on-line sites that may have what you're looking for.
My other cube pages
& | My directions for Solving the Rubik's Cube (3x3x3) - these also apply to the 2x2x2 |
See Denny's solution for solving the 3x3x3 cube. This is a more detailed solution for the 3x3 than the one I provide (mirrored from the now missing http://www.calormen.com/vpm/puzzlesolutions/rubikscube/) | |
See Denny's solution for solving the 4x4x4 cube (mirrored from the now missing http://www.calormen.com/vpm/puzzlesolutions/revenge/) | |
My directions for Solving the Square 1 | |
My directions for Solving the Pyramix (Pyramid) |
As a preview, the steps are:
The figures in this document represent a sample cube. Although the colors on your personal cube may be different than the figures, I feel that the colored figures will still be helpful in solving the cube. I would suggest matching as many colors on your cube as possible to the figures, then making mental notes about which colors correspond between your cube The diagrams show all six sides of the cube by pretending that mirrors are being held up so that you may see the "hidden" sides. The directions for what parts of the cube to turn and when are given in a code that is relative to the current positioning of the cube. Each side descriptor refers to a side with respect to the figure the move is referenced to. This means that the front side can be a different color, depending on the diagram being used. See Move 1 of my 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube page for instructive diagrams to illustrate the moves. |
In the figures, any gray pieces represent pieces that don't matter and can be any color. To increase clarity, I have shown a lot of colored pieces. In most cases, the figures represent an example of the situation being described, while the colors don't have to match perfectly.
Pick a center piece to represent the first side of the cube solved (blue in these figures) and solve the points and crosses on that side. One cross may be left empty since it will be used as the "keyhole" later on. |
• Step 2: Solve the bottom points
2a. To move two points into position:
Orient the cube as shown in Figure 2a, where the two points to be moved into place are on the right side of the front face while any green points already on the down face are on the right side of the down face, then perform Move 2a. You will need to rotate the front side and middle horizontal slice as necessary to place pieces into position.
Move 2a: |
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2b. To move 1 point into position:
Orient the cube as shown in Figure 2b, where the one point to be moved into place is on the right side of the front face while any green points already on the down face are on the right side of the down face, then perform Move 2b. You will need to rotate the front side and middle horizontal slice as necessary to place pieces into position.
Move 2b: |
• Step 3: Solve the remaining 16 points (on the sides)
First, position the top 8 points along the 4 sides:
Rotate Dd freely to get Points next to their centers, then F to put the points up to the upper layers, yielding Figure 3. Now use Moves 3a and 3b as needed. |
3a. If the upper layer already has correctly placed points:
Move 3a: F2 Dd F2 D'd' |
3b. If a face has 3 solved points:
Move 3b: Dd F D'd' |
• Step 4: Complete the top and bottom crosses
4a. To insert a piece into the bottom:
Move the piece to the right hand side by rotating H (the central, horizontal slice), then rotate the right hand side, bottom, and top until it looks like Figure 4a. Now perform move 4a.
Move 4a: |
4b. To complete the top (fill in the keyhole):
Move 4b: Ff H' F'f' H' Ff H F'f' H |
• Step 5: Complete the 16 remaining crosses
First complete the upper cross piece of each side using H and F moves, giving the cube in Figure 5. |
5a. To exchange the location of eight of the equator pieces (Useful for symmetrically scrambled cubes):
Move 5a: F2f2 H F2f2 H' |
5b. To swap adjacent pieces (more useful for highly scrambled cubes):
Move 5b: H L2l2 H' Ll H' Ll H' L2l2 H Ll H Ll Note: In this move, "Ll" indicates capital L and lowercase "ell"; thus "Ll" means to turn both the left hand side and the 2nd layer in from the left hand side one quarter turn. |
5c. If only two pieces remain to be swapped:
Move 5c: U'u' R' then Move 5b then R Uu |
• Step 6: Associate wings with their appropriate edge pieces
6a. To associate two wings with their appropriate edges:
Move 6a: Ll F' L F L'l' F |
6b. To move a wing from one side of the back to the other :
Move 6b: B L' D' B2 Remember, B means the back side and D means the down side |
6c. To move a wing up to position it for Move 6a:
Move 6c: B' R' B L' D' B2 R B This is B' R' then Move 6b then R B |
6d. To fix a Parity Error situation:
Move 6d: Rr U2 Rr U2 Rr U2 Rr U2 Rr U2 This is simply Rr U2 five times. |
Use your favorite 3x3x3 solution to solve the cube, since the edges and wings act like the single edge pieces of the 3x3x3, the corners directly correspond to the corners, and the centers, crosses, and points correspond to the center pieces of the 3x3x3, as shown in Figure 7.
I hope you have found these directions to be clear and complete, yet concise. If these directions help you to solve the cube, I would enjoy hearing from you.
Contact info: I appreciate receiving e-mails describing your success with these directions, but I cannot provide any additional help in solving the 5x5 cube beyond the instructions and steps shown here. In fact, I have not scrambled my 5x5 cubes in a long time, due to the effort required to unscramble them. Please also e-mail if you have problems accessing a page or seeing a graphic.
These pages are mirrored at http://www.alchemistmatt.com/ and http:/www.geocities.com/alchemistmatt/.
Last Modified January 1, 2008