P86 · Packing and covering · Classic · Hard

Regular pentagons in a square · n = 29

Pack n unit-side regular pentagons into a square. Contact is allowed; interiors cannot overlap. Minimise the container square side.

Instancen = 29
ObjectiveMinimize container square side

Record comparison

container square side · Lower is better
RecordValue / intervalAuthor / holderSource
External best known[7.98469, 7.98470)Joshua Wolk2026-09Erich Friedman ↗
Site record7.984692462zzzcyRecord details ↓

Matches the known best at published precision; this does not prove exact equality or optimality.

Formal definition

  • ContainerThe editor and certificate normalise the container to the unit square [0,1]², while public scores are reported in the literature's unit-piece scale. Boundary contact is allowed.
  • SubmissionSubmit {radius, placements:[{x,y,turn},…]}, with each value written as a decimal string of at most nine places. Here x, y are centre coordinates; circles require turn = 0 and polygons use turn = tan(θ/2). Coordinates and turn must lie in [−4, 4], with 0 < radius ≤ 4.
  • ConstraintsExactly n congruent pieces lie wholly inside the container with pairwise disjoint interiors. Polygons may rotate independently by arbitrary angles.
  • PrecisionInput decimals are parsed as exact rationals and regular-polygon vertices are defined algebraically, with zero floating-point tolerance in feasibility checks.
  • ObjectiveContainer square side = 1/(2 sin(π/5) r), where smaller is better. Pages, leaderboards, and literature records share this unit with automatic conversion.
Open full editor ↗

Layout shown: site record

VERIFIED CONSTRUCTIONVERIFIED CONSTRUCTION

Getting a feel for it

Literature targets and coordinate certificates

Literature targets are converted at their published precision, while nine-decimal coordinate certificates are stored and displayed alongside the source values.

Source
The record-holding arrangement for Regular pentagons in a square n = 29, 7.984692462
LAYOUT & HISTORY

Record details

Inspect the layout, solver notes and record history.

Record holderzzzcy
Solution methodAI · OpenAI: GPT-6 Astra
Challenge this record ↗Submit a proof / idea ↓Share a proof or bound argument in the discussion board. Accepted contributions earn proof points.
Record holder's solver noteNo solver note yet (expand)+

The record holder has not shared a solver note yet.

Record history (1 changes)
  1. zzzcyAI · OpenAI: GPT-6 Astra
    7.985120068→7.984692462
ANSWER FORMAT

How to write your answer

the unit square [0,1]²

Submit {radius, placements:[{x,y,turn},…]}, with each value written as a decimal string of at most nine places. Here x, y are centre coordinates; circles require turn = 0 and polygons use turn = tan(θ/2). Coordinates and turn must lie in [−4, 4], with 0 < radius ≤ 4.

The current leader's answer

{
  "placements": [
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.752325083",
      "y": "0.807073158"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.747170364",
      "y": "0.614349170"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.599015097",
      "y": "0.721087224"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.083079549",
      "x": "0.432965324",
      "y": "0.425782344"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.235483464",
      "x": "0.399052964",
      "y": "0.256558797"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.448550577",
      "y": "0.617335696"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.898679003",
      "y": "0.522819263"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.741525554",
      "y": "0.244189380"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.446675493",
      "y": "0.810059684"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.114654006",
      "x": "0.283971189",
      "y": "0.550975868"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.312005390",
      "x": "0.242936944",
      "y": "0.371099453"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.751656511",
      "y": "0.416566955"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.576149074",
      "y": "0.293038463"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.160794198",
      "x": "0.898503815",
      "y": "0.106801551"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.083079549",
      "x": "0.274510477",
      "y": "0.137267674"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.235483464",
      "x": "0.105074625",
      "y": "0.105364564"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.202713919",
      "x": "0.269493308",
      "y": "0.722744641"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.597375280",
      "y": "0.517545481"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.129688842",
      "x": "0.099311014",
      "y": "0.494233826"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.011725603",
      "x": "0.087633399",
      "y": "0.292618559"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.324919696",
      "x": "0.913811212",
      "y": "0.320743055"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.463086471",
      "y": "0.086188788"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.000000000",
      "x": "0.086188788",
      "y": "0.682994300"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.000640895",
      "x": "0.086307825",
      "y": "0.898351552"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.324919696",
      "x": "0.913811212",
      "y": "0.710329048"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.665728464",
      "y": "0.086188788"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.296210973",
      "y": "0.913811212"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.605700175",
      "y": "0.913811212"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.898679003",
      "y": "0.913811212"
    }
  ],
  "radius": "0.106535200"
}
Submission format and technical detailsOpen this when you are ready to prepare a JSON answer+

Instance parameters

{
  "n": 29,
  "sides": 5
}

The current leader's answer

{
  "placements": [
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.752325083",
      "y": "0.807073158"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.747170364",
      "y": "0.614349170"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.599015097",
      "y": "0.721087224"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.083079549",
      "x": "0.432965324",
      "y": "0.425782344"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.235483464",
      "x": "0.399052964",
      "y": "0.256558797"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.448550577",
      "y": "0.617335696"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.898679003",
      "y": "0.522819263"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.741525554",
      "y": "0.244189380"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.446675493",
      "y": "0.810059684"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.114654006",
      "x": "0.283971189",
      "y": "0.550975868"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.312005390",
      "x": "0.242936944",
      "y": "0.371099453"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.751656511",
      "y": "0.416566955"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.576149074",
      "y": "0.293038463"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.160794198",
      "x": "0.898503815",
      "y": "0.106801551"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.083079549",
      "x": "0.274510477",
      "y": "0.137267674"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.235483464",
      "x": "0.105074625",
      "y": "0.105364564"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.202713919",
      "x": "0.269493308",
      "y": "0.722744641"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.597375280",
      "y": "0.517545481"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.129688842",
      "x": "0.099311014",
      "y": "0.494233826"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.011725603",
      "x": "0.087633399",
      "y": "0.292618559"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.324919696",
      "x": "0.913811212",
      "y": "0.320743055"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.463086471",
      "y": "0.086188788"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.000000000",
      "x": "0.086188788",
      "y": "0.682994300"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.000640895",
      "x": "0.086307825",
      "y": "0.898351552"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.324919696",
      "x": "0.913811212",
      "y": "0.710329048"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.158384440",
      "x": "0.665728464",
      "y": "0.086188788"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.296210973",
      "y": "0.913811212"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.605700175",
      "y": "0.913811212"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.158384440",
      "x": "0.898679003",
      "y": "0.913811212"
    }
  ],
  "radius": "0.106535200"
}

Submit {radius, placements:[{x,y,turn},…]}, with each value written as a decimal string of at most nine places. Here x, y are centre coordinates; circles require turn = 0 and polygons use turn = tan(θ/2). Coordinates and turn must lie in [−4, 4], with 0 < radius ≤ 4. · Verifier v1.0.0

DISCUSSION

Discussion

Discuss strategies, share construction methods, or ask questions. Any signed-in user can post under their public byline and unique #UID. New posts appear after moderation.