3
$\begingroup$

I have a 5x5 Rubik's Cube in a similar situation to this previous post - entirely solved, except for a pair of swapped edges: Swap the edges in a solved Rubik's cube.

However, since it's a 5x5, it's the full edge (3 pieces) that's swapped:

3-piece edge is swapped from orange to red and vice versa

It must be some kind of mistake, and I suspect that one of my kids swapped some center pieces. All six centers have removable faces, but no other pieces do. What I should do?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$

This should not be possible. If we consider only the "odd-numbered columns" in every 5x5 grid then we have a 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube with two edge pieces swapped and it is well known this is impossible. Therefore we cannot solve the 5x5x5 cube.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ This is correct, but as the OP says that the centre caps are removable, it can be made solvable fairly easily. Just shift a middle layer one quarter turn, and rearrange that layer's centre caps to match the corners (i.e. arrange them as if to undo that quarter turn). $\endgroup$
    – Jaap Scherphuis
    Oct 10, 2020 at 10:04
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks Jaap - I tried your suggestion on shifting the 6 center pieces one quarter turn, and I don't think it solved the issue. It's totally possible that I didn't fully understand you. But after shifting the 6 center pieces, I tried to re-solve the cube. (I wasn't sure what you meant by matching the corners.) Upon trying to re-solve, the edges still weren't fixed. To be more explicit, for the top row, instead of orange-red-red-red-orange (and vice-versa on the other side), I now had orange-red-orange-red-orange (and vice-versa on the other side). Did I do something wrong? $\endgroup$
    – RMagill
    Oct 13, 2020 at 21:13
  • $\begingroup$ @RMagill: That final configuration you reached is solvable, because it is simply a pair of 2-cycles, so two commutators suffice. $\endgroup$
    – user21820
    May 12, 2021 at 12:33

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.