P83 · Packing and covering · Classic · Hard

Equilateral triangles in a square · n = 34

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

Instancen = 34
ObjectiveMinimize container square side
Best known, unproven4.09088Source-precision interval: 4.09088–4.09089 (values inside match)exhibited site certificate 4.090886273Compiled by Erich Friedman; 34. Found by Jake Loyd in June 2026. Source expression: s = 4.09088+.

Formal definition

  • ContainerThe editor and certificate normalize to the unit square [0,1]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 square side = 1/(2 sin(pi/3) r), smaller is better. Pages, leaderboards and literature share these units; conversion is automatic.
Open the full editor
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 Equilateral triangles in a square n = 34, 4.090886273
Current leader

4.090886273

container square side

Matches the best known
Answer source34. Found by Jake Loyd
Solution methodPublished reference construction
Challenge this record Submit a proof / idea Share a proof or idea in the discussion. Accepted contributions can earn proof points.
Record holder's solver noteNo solver note yet (expand)

The record holder has not shared a solver note yet.

ANSWER FORMAT

How to write your answer

the unit square [0,1]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

{
  "placements": [
    {
      "turn": "0.267949192",
      "x": "0.122222905",
      "y": "0.929434573"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.267949192",
      "x": "0.366668715",
      "y": "0.929434573"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.267949192",
      "x": "0.611114524",
      "y": "0.929434573"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.267949192",
      "x": "0.855560334",
      "y": "0.929434573"
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    {
      "turn": "-0.267949192",
      "x": "0.244445810",
      "y": "0.858869146"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.267949192",
      "x": "0.488891619",
      "y": "0.858869146"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.267949192",
      "x": "0.733337429",
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    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.577350269",
      "x": "0.929434573",
      "y": "0.749473094"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.000000000",
      "x": "0.070565427",
      "y": "0.736646241"
    },
    {
      "turn": "0.247820794",
      "x": "0.307023147",
      "y": "0.713176275"
    },
    {
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      "x": "0.546423600",
      "y": "0.713176275"
    },
    {
      "turn": "-0.288282227",
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      "y": "0.638048831"
    },
    {
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      "x": "0.715337424",
      "y": "0.624797843"
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    {
      "turn": "-0.000000000",
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    {
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      "x": "0.143531722",
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    {
      "turn": "0.000000000",
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    {
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    {
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    {
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      "x": "0.856468278",
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    {
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    {
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    {
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      "x": "0.929434573",
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    {
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    {
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      "y": "0.141130854"
    },
    {
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    {
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    {
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    },
    {
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      "x": "0.633331285",
      "y": "0.070565427"
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  ],
  "radius": "0.141130853"
}
Submission format and technical detailsOpen this when you are ready to prepare a JSON answer

Instance parameters

{
  "n": 34,
  "sides": 5
}

The current leader's answer

{
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    },
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    },
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    {
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    {
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    {
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    {
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      "y": "0.624797843"
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    {
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  ],
  "radius": "0.141130853"
}

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

DISCUSSION

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