Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Group Theory Visualized Through The Rubik's Cube, Ashlyn Okamoto

University Honors Theses

In my thesis, I describe the work done to implement several Group Theory concepts in the context of the Rubik’s cube. A simulation of the cube was constructed using Processing-Java and with help from a YouTube series done by TheCodingTrain. I reflect on the struggles and difficulties that came with creating this program along with the inspiration behind the project. The concepts that are currently implemented at this time are: Identity, Associativity, Order, and Inverses. The functionality of the cube is described as it moves like a regular cube but has extra keypresses that demonstrate the concepts listed. Each concept …