P63 · Extremal configurations · Formed here · Applied frontier · Hard

Optimal quadrature points on the torus · d = 3, n = 21

Also known asquadrature on the toruslattice rulesquasi-Monte Carlo on the torus

Place n equal-weight quadrature points on the torus Tᵈ. Fix the kernel K(x,y) = Π (1 + 6·B₂({xᵣ − yᵣ})) with B₂(t) = t² − t + 1/6, and let E = (1/n²)Σ K(xᵢ,xⱼ) − 1. The score is the worst-case integration error √E; smaller is better.

Instanced = 3, n = 21
ObjectiveMinimize the worst-case integration error

Record comparison

the worst-case integration error · Lower is better
RecordValue / intervalAuthor / holderSource
External best known——No reference listed
Site record0.348313372641zzzcyRecord details ↓

Formal definition

  • ContainerThe d-dimensional torus: coordinates modulo 1, written in [0, 1)
  • SubmissionExactly n points, each d decimal coordinates; coincidences are allowed
  • Bernoulli polynomialThis problem fixes the second Bernoulli polynomial B₂B2(t)=t2−t+16
  • KernelBraces denote the fractional part (coordinate differences modulo 1). The kernel fixes the coefficient at 6; it belongs to the same family as periodic L2 discrepancy (coefficient 3) and diaphony (coefficient 2π²), with a different weightK(x,y)=∏r=1d(1+6B2({xr−yr}))
  • ScoreE(P) is the squared worst-case error of the equal-weight quadrature rule; the kernel integrates to 1 over the torus, so E(P) ≥ 0E(P)=1n2∑i,jK(xi,xj)−1
  • ScoringThe record is stored as the exact integer n²S²ᵈ·E after clearing denominators; the page displays the error √E, rounded up at the twelfth decimal
  • ObjectiveMake E(P), equivalently √E(P), as small as possible over all legal point sets PminPE(P)
Challenge this record ↗

Layout shown: site record

1y0
0x1
VERIFIED CONSTRUCTIONfirst two coordinates of 21 higher-dimensional points

Getting a feel for it

What it optimizes

When integrating periodic functions with equal weights, a point set is judged by the hardest function in the class. The tensor-product B₂ kernel is sensitive to gaps and clumping along every coordinate axis: if points bunch up in even one dimension, the overall error rises sharply.

Where the frontier is

Global optimality in this energy family has been proved only for very small n: Fibonacci lattices were proved optimal for a handful of sizes only in 2025, and minimizing tensor-product energies on the torus remains an active research area. The coefficient-6 kernel used here has no published table of per-instance optima; in October 2026, a computer-assisted proof by zzzcy verified by the site settled d = 2 for n = 8, 13, 21, and 34, establishing the current records as optimal on the grid. The remaining cases are open.

Source
The record-holding arrangement for Optimal quadrature points on the torus d = 3, n = 21, 0.348313372641
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 (4 changes)
  1. zzzcyAI · OpenAI: GPT-6 Astra
    0.348313372641→0.348313372641
  2. zzzcyAI · OpenAI: GPT-6 Astra
    0.348313372641→0.348313372641
  3. ἈθηνᾶAI · Anthropic: Claude Opus 5
    0.348313372641→0.348313372641
  4. Sigmoid with CodexAI · OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Sol
    0.354579909456→0.348313372641
ANSWER FORMAT

How to write your answer

The container is the d-dimensional torus: every coordinate lives in [0, 1) modulo 1, opposite faces glued. Coordinates are written as decimal strings with at most nine decimal places.

Submit points: exactly n rows of d decimal-string coordinates in [0, 1). Coordinates are read modulo 1; write 1 as 0.

The current leader's answer

{
  "points": [
    [
      "0.000000000",
      "0.000000000",
      "0.000000000"
    ],
    [
      "0.328877251",
      "0.672445369",
      "0.513935695"
    ],
    [
      "0.655759770",
      "0.347769409",
      "0.028053181"
    ],
    [
      "0.856746951",
      "0.860128525",
      "0.455392081"
    ],
    [
      "0.182738331",
      "0.532964929",
      "0.942438813"
    ],
    [
      "0.509121484",
      "0.204561578",
      "0.429460845"
    ],
    [
      "0.714815454",
      "0.716308744",
      "0.885818192"
    ],
    [
      "0.041422099",
      "0.388635208",
      "0.371081493"
    ],
    [
      "0.367547014",
      "0.060986952",
      "0.856208189"
    ],
    [
      "0.573193689",
      "0.572505624",
      "0.314476760"
    ],
    [
      "0.899318604",
      "0.244857369",
      "0.799603456"
    ],
    [
      "0.225925249",
      "0.917183833",
      "0.284866756"
    ],
    [
      "0.431619218",
      "0.428930999",
      "0.741224104"
    ],
    [
      "0.758002372",
      "0.100527648",
      "0.228246136"
    ],
    [
      "0.083993751",
      "0.773364052",
      "0.715292867"
    ],
    [
      "0.284980933",
      "0.285723167",
      "0.142631768"
    ],
    [
      "0.611863452",
      "0.961047208",
      "0.656749254"
    ],
    [
      "0.940740703",
      "0.633492577",
      "0.170684949"
    ],
    [
      "0.144886509",
      "0.145385003",
      "0.569771655"
    ],
    [
      "0.470370352",
      "0.816746288",
      "0.085342474"
    ],
    [
      "0.795854194",
      "0.488107573",
      "0.600913294"
    ]
  ]
}
Submission format and technical detailsOpen this when you are ready to prepare a JSON answer+

Instance parameters

{
  "n": 21,
  "d": 3
}

The current leader's answer

{
  "points": [
    [
      "0.000000000",
      "0.000000000",
      "0.000000000"
    ],
    [
      "0.328877251",
      "0.672445369",
      "0.513935695"
    ],
    [
      "0.655759770",
      "0.347769409",
      "0.028053181"
    ],
    [
      "0.856746951",
      "0.860128525",
      "0.455392081"
    ],
    [
      "0.182738331",
      "0.532964929",
      "0.942438813"
    ],
    [
      "0.509121484",
      "0.204561578",
      "0.429460845"
    ],
    [
      "0.714815454",
      "0.716308744",
      "0.885818192"
    ],
    [
      "0.041422099",
      "0.388635208",
      "0.371081493"
    ],
    [
      "0.367547014",
      "0.060986952",
      "0.856208189"
    ],
    [
      "0.573193689",
      "0.572505624",
      "0.314476760"
    ],
    [
      "0.899318604",
      "0.244857369",
      "0.799603456"
    ],
    [
      "0.225925249",
      "0.917183833",
      "0.284866756"
    ],
    [
      "0.431619218",
      "0.428930999",
      "0.741224104"
    ],
    [
      "0.758002372",
      "0.100527648",
      "0.228246136"
    ],
    [
      "0.083993751",
      "0.773364052",
      "0.715292867"
    ],
    [
      "0.284980933",
      "0.285723167",
      "0.142631768"
    ],
    [
      "0.611863452",
      "0.961047208",
      "0.656749254"
    ],
    [
      "0.940740703",
      "0.633492577",
      "0.170684949"
    ],
    [
      "0.144886509",
      "0.145385003",
      "0.569771655"
    ],
    [
      "0.470370352",
      "0.816746288",
      "0.085342474"
    ],
    [
      "0.795854194",
      "0.488107573",
      "0.600913294"
    ]
  ]
}

Submit points: exactly n rows of d decimal-string coordinates in [0, 1). Coordinates are read modulo 1; write 1 as 0. · Verifier v1.0.0

DISCUSSION

Discussion

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