Emblem

The emblem I chose to represent Exactitude is a Rubik’s cube.

This puzzle, invented in 1974 is the ultimate emblem of Exactitude. In order to “solve” the puzzle, one must make each side of the cube solid with one of six colors. Although there are multiple ways to solve a Rubik’s cube, all methods are algorithms- they require exact and specific steps in order to sort the colors to their appropriate sides.

The algorithms themselves are an example of Exactitude, but so is the movement required to rotate the sections of the cube. Divided into three-by-three square cubes, the entire puzzle is composed of 27 individual cubes that rotate on two axes. The algorithms require a code, and each side, direction and layer has its own letter, so a string of instructions can look like this:

U R U R’ U’ F’ U’ FU’ F’ U’ F U R U R’

The cubes cannot be turned on diagonal axes, which is part of the challenge. Their limited ability to turn only on an X or Y axis is part of how I feel these puzzles fall under the quality of Exactitude because of their constraints and requirement to be solved a certain, or exact, way.