Here is one of the weirder ways I've ever seen of solving the Rubik's Cube. C. J. Karr solves his cube while riding a bicycle! The camera operator is on a bicycle, also, so the solving itself can become impossible to see at some points, but it does make for some interesting and dynamic shots.
It looks like Tony Fisher may have some competition. Ryan Thompson has come up with Rubik's Cube-type puzzles in the shape of a cylinder, a hexagon and an octagon.
This young lady from China, En-xi Xie, at only 3 years and 3 months of age, is giving solvers like Chun Hoo Ulf Wong, Sunwoo Ban and even Yui Tomita a run for their money!
She can solve the 2x2x2 Rubik's Cube, too.
Update (7/27/06): Here's another video of En-xi Xie solving a 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube.
This anonymous Pi reciter, known only as idelwood's brother has the first 40 digits of Pi memorized. He should be careful, as this young child knows almost as many!
Chris Hardwick, whose blinfolded Rubik's Cube videos I've referenced here and here, has posted some more interesting videos.
In these videos, Chris is solving the cube one-handed. First, there's a 44.98 second one-handed solution, followed by a 29.09 second one-handed solution! This is even faster than the Dave Campbell video I posted just two days ago!
Judging by the number of one-handed Rubik's Cube solving videos on YouTube, this form of challenge is becoming more and more popular!
Triangular Peg Solitaire is a simple, classic puzzle that still has the power to confound. If you're not familiar with it, or it doesn't seem that difficult, try it for yourself (Javascript required).
In the above video, you see “Kenny” solving the puzzle at a Cracker Barrel in Pennsylvania.
Update (1/16/07): “Toby” can also solve the Triangular Peg Solitaire puzzle. “Thea”, after a few false starts, manages to solve the puzzle, as well.
This is Dave Campbell. Dave, much like T. Wright and Macky, can solve the Rubik's Cube one-handed. However, Dave's one-handed solve is the fastest I've seen!
In my previous entry concerning Dr. Arthur Benjamin, I mentioned that I'd like to find his Mathemagics lecture. It's now been posted over on YouTube!
The complete lecture itself teaches how to improve your mental calculation skills, and is very clearly taught. These videos also came with audio tapes and a workbook, which are referred to in the videos. It's not hard to make up your own sample problems, however.
The above video is only the first of 11 parts. Here's an index for the complete set of Mathemagic video clips:
Part 1: Introduction, Adding 2- and 3-digit numbers Part 2: Adding 2- and 3-digit numbers, Calculating tips, Subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers Part 3: Subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers Part 4: Subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers, Multiplying 2- and 3-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers Part 5: Multiplying 3-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers, Percentages, Division of 2- and 3-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers Part 6: Division of 3-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers Part 7: Multiplying fractions Part 8: Multiplying, Adding and subtracting fractions, Converting fractions to decimals Part 9: Converting fractions to decimals, Estimation, Squaring Part 10: Squaring, Algebra Part 11: Algebra, Fibonacci addition trick
Towards the end, there are a few times you are referred to the workbook for a more detailed explanation. Here are some links on the web that can give you the required explanations:
Converting fractions to decimals The 1089 trick How did Dr. Benjamin predict the result of digit #11 divided by digit #10?
Ramon Campayo is a memory trainer from Spain who has broken many records. The above video is a news report in Spanish concerning some of his record-breaking feats. Thanks to KUTV in Salt Lake City, Utah, we also have news footage of Ramon Campayo in English.
On Mr. Campayo's site, there are also many videos available concerning his memory feats. Even if you don't speak Spanish, most of them are not hard to follow.
Update (8/31/06): You can now find a large selection of Ramon Campayo's videos on YouTube.
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