The modern day Rubik’s Cube is a three dimensional combination puzzle in which one has to make each of its six sides reflect its specific color. These colors include: white, yellow, green, red, blue and orange. However, Rubik’s Cubes were not always like this.
The first Rubik’s Cube was made by Erno Rubik in 1974. He used it not as a toy, but as a model in order to help visualize three-dimensional movement to his students while teaching about an algebraic grouping theory. It took him a month to solve his own puzzle, which he eventually titled the Magic Cube.
In 1977, a company named Konsumex began marketing the cube as the now known Rubik’s Cube. The popularity of the cube picked up, and by 1980, over 100 million cubes were sold. As of today, around 500 million have been sold.
With the traction of the Rubik’s Cube, competitions are held in order to see who can solve one the fastest. The sport is now known as Cubing, and has grown from just the standard three by three Rubik’s Cubes. It now includes other puzzles such as the Megaminx, Pyraminx, Skweb and Square-1.
One can find more details about how to participate in these competitions on the World Cubing Association website.