P92 · Packing and covering · Classic · Hard

Sum of radii in the unit circle · n = 13

Place n non-overlapping circles inside a circle of radius 1, each with its own radius, making the sum of the radii as large as possible.

Instancen = 13
ObjectiveMaximize the sum of the radii

Record comparison

the sum of the radii · Higher is better
RecordValue / intervalAuthor / holderSource
External best known[3.227, 3.228]See source attributionErich Friedman ↗
Site recordNo player record yet——

Formal definition

  • ContainerThe closed disc of radius 1 centred at (1, 1); a circle may touch the boundary
  • SubmissionExactly n circles, each [x, y, r] with r > 0, every number to at most nine decimals
  • ConstraintsEvery circle lies inside the disc, (x − 1)² + (y − 1)² ≤ (1 − r)², and no two interiors meet: the distance between centres is at least the sum of the radii. All checked exactly in integers; touching is allowed
  • ScoreThe sum of the radii, an exact integer sum shown to nine decimals; larger is betterS=Σr
  • ObjectiveMaximise the sum of the radii over every legal arrangementmaxSΣr
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Layout shown: starter layout

2y0
0x2
VERIFIED CONSTRUCTIONscored by the sum of the radii

Getting a feel for it

Where the room for improvement is

As in the square, equal circles are among the worst strategies: one large circle near the centre, or a ring of large ones, with small circles tucked into the gaps between them and the rim. A disc has no corners, so the big circle in a corner becomes a ring along the rim, and the trade of sizes plays out in a different geometry.

Where the frontier is

Erich Friedman's maximum-total-perimeter table runs to n = 50: n ≤ 4 and 6–10 are closed-form arrangements by Elser and Cantrell, n = 5 was improved by Haowei Lin in July 2026, and n = 33–50 were added by Jonathan Viquerat in September 2026. The table is still being rewritten and no row carries an optimality proof; the site exhibits the pictured arrangements, reconstructed and verified exactly.

Source
The current arrangement for Sum of radii in the unit circle n = 13
LAYOUT & HISTORY

Starter layout

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ANSWER FORMAT

How to write your answer

The container is the disc of radius 1 centred at (1, 1), so every coordinate lies in [0, 2] and none is negative. Coordinates and radii share one unit and are written as plain decimals, to at most nine places.

Submit circles: exactly n triples [x, y, r], every number a decimal string of at most nine places such as "0.25". The container is the closed disc of radius 1 centred at (1, 1).

Starter answer

{
  "circles": [
    [
      "0.999841156",
      "0.738736245",
      "0.304612725"
    ],
    [
      "1.595232384",
      "0.632105606",
      "0.300251562"
    ],
    [
      "0.404320691",
      "0.632829707",
      "0.300251570"
    ],
    [
      "1.471955949",
      "1.530865098",
      "0.289676010"
    ],
    [
      "0.528689991",
      "1.531438647",
      "0.289676017"
    ],
    [
      "1.000173584",
      "1.285463023",
      "0.242114152"
    ],
    [
      "1.000464428",
      "1.763788473",
      "0.236211385"
    ],
    [
      "0.774088833",
      "0.259138807",
      "0.225460677"
    ],
    [
      "1.225010102",
      "0.258864641",
      "0.225460674"
    ],
    [
      "1.771863460",
      "1.120212795",
      "0.218831441"
    ],
    [
      "0.228283307",
      "1.121151346",
      "0.218831450"
    ],
    [
      "1.369035328",
      "1.064594802",
      "0.187818118"
    ],
    [
      "0.631043517",
      "1.065043526",
      "0.187818121"
    ]
  ]
}
Submission format and technical detailsOpen this when you are ready to prepare a JSON answer+

Instance parameters

{
  "n": 13
}

Starter answer

{
  "circles": [
    [
      "0.999841156",
      "0.738736245",
      "0.304612725"
    ],
    [
      "1.595232384",
      "0.632105606",
      "0.300251562"
    ],
    [
      "0.404320691",
      "0.632829707",
      "0.300251570"
    ],
    [
      "1.471955949",
      "1.530865098",
      "0.289676010"
    ],
    [
      "0.528689991",
      "1.531438647",
      "0.289676017"
    ],
    [
      "1.000173584",
      "1.285463023",
      "0.242114152"
    ],
    [
      "1.000464428",
      "1.763788473",
      "0.236211385"
    ],
    [
      "0.774088833",
      "0.259138807",
      "0.225460677"
    ],
    [
      "1.225010102",
      "0.258864641",
      "0.225460674"
    ],
    [
      "1.771863460",
      "1.120212795",
      "0.218831441"
    ],
    [
      "0.228283307",
      "1.121151346",
      "0.218831450"
    ],
    [
      "1.369035328",
      "1.064594802",
      "0.187818118"
    ],
    [
      "0.631043517",
      "1.065043526",
      "0.187818121"
    ]
  ]
}

Submit circles: exactly n triples [x, y, r], every number a decimal string of at most nine places such as "0.25". The container is the closed disc of radius 1 centred at (1, 1). · Verifier v1.0.0

DISCUSSION

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