P85 · Packing and covering · Classic · Hard

Squares in an equilateral triangle · n = 27

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 = 27
ObjectiveMinimize container triangle side

Record comparison

container triangle side · Lower is better
RecordValue / intervalAuthor / holderSource
External best known[8.618, 8.619)Erich FriedmanErich Friedman ↗
Site record8.618802239NUE_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 = 27, 8.618802239
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
    8.618802344→8.618802239
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": "0.125000000",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.241025404",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.357050808",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.473076211",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.191987298",
      "y": "0.174038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.308012702",
      "y": "0.174038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.424038106",
      "y": "0.174038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.258974596",
      "y": "0.290063509"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.375000000",
      "y": "0.290063509"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.887259526",
      "y": "0.079246825"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.829246824",
      "y": "0.179727772"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.771234122",
      "y": "0.280208719"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.713221420",
      "y": "0.380689666"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.753284930",
      "y": "0.079246825"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.695272228",
      "y": "0.179727772"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.637259526",
      "y": "0.280208719"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.619310334",
      "y": "0.079246825"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.561297632",
      "y": "0.179727772"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.487740474",
      "y": "0.728765877"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.429727772",
      "y": "0.628284930"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.371715070",
      "y": "0.527803983"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.313702368",
      "y": "0.427323036"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.554727772",
      "y": "0.612740473"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.496715070",
      "y": "0.512259526"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.438702368",
      "y": "0.411778579"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.621715070",
      "y": "0.496715070"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.563702368",
      "y": "0.396234123"
    }
  ],
  "radius": "0.082042349"
}
Submission format and technical detailsOpen this when you are ready to prepare a JSON answer+

Instance parameters

{
  "n": 27,
  "sides": 5
}

The current leader's answer

{
  "placements": [
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.125000000",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.241025404",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.357050808",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.473076211",
      "y": "0.058012702"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.191987298",
      "y": "0.174038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.308012702",
      "y": "0.174038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.424038106",
      "y": "0.174038106"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.258974596",
      "y": "0.290063509"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.414213562",
      "x": "0.375000000",
      "y": "0.290063509"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.887259526",
      "y": "0.079246825"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.829246824",
      "y": "0.179727772"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.771234122",
      "y": "0.280208719"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.713221420",
      "y": "0.380689666"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.753284930",
      "y": "0.079246825"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.695272228",
      "y": "0.179727772"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.637259526",
      "y": "0.280208719"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.619310334",
      "y": "0.079246825"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.131652498",
      "x": "0.561297632",
      "y": "0.179727772"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.487740474",
      "y": "0.728765877"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.429727772",
      "y": "0.628284930"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.371715070",
      "y": "0.527803983"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.313702368",
      "y": "0.427323036"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.554727772",
      "y": "0.612740473"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.496715070",
      "y": "0.512259526"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.438702368",
      "y": "0.411778579"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.621715070",
      "y": "0.496715070"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.131652498",
      "x": "0.563702368",
      "y": "0.396234123"
    }
  ],
  "radius": "0.082042349"
}

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.