P85 · Packing and covering · Classic · Hard

Squares in an equilateral triangle · n = 15

Pack n unit squares into an equilateral triangle container with boundary contact allowed and disjoint interiors, minimising the side length of the container triangle.

Instancen = 15
ObjectiveMinimize container triangle side

Record comparison

container triangle side · Lower is better
RecordValue / intervalAuthor / holderSource
External best known[6.464, 6.465)Erich FriedmanErich Friedman ↗
Site record6.464101659NUE_13Record 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 equilateral triangle with vertices (0,0), (1,0), and (1/2,√3/2), 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 triangle side = 1/(2 sin(π/4) 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 Squares in an equilateral triangle n = 15, 6.464101659
LAYOUT & HISTORY

Record details

Inspect the layout, solver notes and record history.

Record holderNUE_13
Solution methodAI · DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash
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. NUE_13AI · DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4.1 Flash
    6.464101719→6.464101659
ANSWER FORMAT

How to write your answer

the equilateral triangle with vertices (0,0), (1,0), (1/2,√3/2)

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": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.166666667",
      "y": "0.077350269"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.321367205",
      "y": "0.077350269"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.476067743",
      "y": "0.077350269"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.255983064",
      "y": "0.232050808"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.410683603",
      "y": "0.232050808"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.849679368",
      "y": "0.105662433"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.772329099",
      "y": "0.239637029"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.694978830",
      "y": "0.373611625"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.671046573",
      "y": "0.105662433"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.593696304",
      "y": "0.239637029"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.483653965",
      "y": "0.683012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.406303696",
      "y": "0.549038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.328953426",
      "y": "0.415063509"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.572970362",
      "y": "0.528312164"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.495620093",
      "y": "0.394337567"
    }
  ],
  "radius": "0.109389799"
}
Submission format and technical detailsOpen this when you are ready to prepare a JSON answer+

Instance parameters

{
  "n": 15,
  "sides": 5
}

The current leader's answer

{
  "placements": [
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.166666667",
      "y": "0.077350269"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.321367205",
      "y": "0.077350269"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.476067743",
      "y": "0.077350269"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.255983064",
      "y": "0.232050808"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.410683603",
      "y": "0.232050808"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.849679368",
      "y": "0.105662433"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.772329099",
      "y": "0.239637029"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.694978830",
      "y": "0.373611625"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.671046573",
      "y": "0.105662433"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.593696304",
      "y": "0.239637029"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.483653965",
      "y": "0.683012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.406303696",
      "y": "0.549038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.328953426",
      "y": "0.415063509"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.572970362",
      "y": "0.528312164"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.495620093",
      "y": "0.394337567"
    }
  ],
  "radius": "0.109389799"
}

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

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