P85 · Packing and covering · Classic · Hard

Squares in an equilateral triangle · n = 39

Pack n unit-side squares into a equilateral triangle. Contact is allowed; interiors cannot overlap. Minimise the container triangle side.

Instancen = 39
ObjectiveMinimize container triangle side
Best known, unproven10.30940Source-precision interval: 10.3094–10.30941 (values inside match)exhibited site certificate 10.309401268Compiled by Erich Friedman; Found by Bhavithran Ananthan in July 2026. Source expression: s = 8 + 4 / √3 = 10.30940+.

Formal definition

  • ContainerThe editor and certificate normalize to the equilateral triangle with vertices (0,0), (1,0), (1/2,√3/2). This is a coordinate convention only; scores use the literature's unit-piece scale. Boundary contact is allowed.
  • SubmissionSubmit {radius, placements:[{x,y,turn},…]}, with decimal strings of at most nine places. x,y are centres; circles require turn=0, polygons use turn=tan(θ/2). Coordinates and turn lie in ±4; 0 < radius ≤ 4.
  • ConstraintsExactly n congruent shapes lie wholly in the container with pairwise disjoint interiors. Polygon rotations are independent, not limited to quarter turns.
  • PrecisionInput decimals are exact rationals; regular-polygon vertices are algebraic, not rounded templates. Feasibility has no floating-point tolerance. A finite-decimal certificate is not a continuous optimality proof.
  • Objectivecontainer triangle side = 1/(2 sin(pi/4) r), smaller is better. Pages, leaderboards and literature share these units; conversion is automatic.
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VERIFIED CONSTRUCTIONVERIFIED CONSTRUCTION

Getting a feel for it

Source and certificate

External targets are converted with their printed precision; decimal coordinate certificates are separate. Reconstruction loss never lowers the literature target, and a source construction is not automatically an optimality proof.

Source
The record-holding arrangement for Squares in an equilateral triangle n = 39, 10.309401268
Current leader

10.309401268

container triangle side

Matches the best known
Answer sourceBhavithran Ananthan
Solution methodPublished reference construction
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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 decimal strings of at most nine places. x,y are centres; circles require turn=0, polygons use turn=tan(θ/2). Coordinates and turn lie in ±4; 0 < radius ≤ 4.

The current leader's answer

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Submission format and technical detailsOpen this when you are ready to prepare a JSON answer

Instance parameters

{
  "n": 39,
  "sides": 5
}

The current leader's answer

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Submit {radius, placements:[{x,y,turn},…]}, with decimal strings of at most nine places. x,y are centres; circles require turn=0, polygons use turn=tan(θ/2). Coordinates and turn lie in ±4; 0 < radius ≤ 4. · Verifier v1.0.0

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