Is this confirmed? Like yea the picture looks legit, but anybody do this with physical blocks or at least something other than ms paint?
this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
434 points (99.1% liked)
Science Memes
15479 readers
2566 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Here's a much more elegant solution for 17
I hate this so much
You may not like it but this is what peak performance looks like.
With straight diagonal lines.
Homophobe!
hey it's no longer June, homophobia is back on the menu
Why are there gaps on either side of the upper-right square? Seems like shoving those closed (like the OP image) would allow a little more twist on the center squares.
there's a gap on both, just in different places and you can get from one to the other just by sliding. The constraints are elsewhere so wouldn't allow you to twist.
Oh, I see it now. That makes sense.
I think this diagram is less accurate. The original picture doesn’t have that gap
You have a point. That's obnoxious. I just wanted straight lines. I'll see if I can find another.
Oh so you're telling me that my storage unit is actually incredibly well optimised for space efficiency?
Nice!
That tiny gap on the right is killing me
if I ever have to pack boxes like this I'm going to throw up
I've definitely packed a box like this, but I've never packed boxes like this 😳
If there was a god, I'd imagine them designing the universe and giggling like an idiot when they made math.
Bees seeing this: "OK, screw it, we're making hexagons!"
4-dimensional bees make rhombic dodecahedrons
Fun fact: Bees actually make round holes, the hexagon shape forms as the wax dries.
Bestagons*
Texagons
Unless I’m wrong, it’s not the most efficient use of space but if you impose the square shape restriction, it is.
That's what he said. Pack 17 squares into a square
My point was that it doesn’t break my brain at all when considering there’s an artificial constraint that affects efficiency and there’s just not going to be a perfect solution for every number of squares when you consider the problem for more than just 17 squares
That's what makes it a puzzle. That's what a puzzle is.
Is this a hard limit we’ve proven or can we still keep trying?
We actually haven't found a universal packing algorithm, so it's on a case-by-case basis. This is the best we've found so far for this case (17 squares in a square).
Figuring out 1-4 must have been sooo tough
It's the best we've found so far
~~To be fair, the large square can not be cleanly divided by the smaller square(s). Seems obvious to most people, but I didn't get it at first.~~
~~In other words: The size relation of the squares makes this weird solution the most efficient (yet discovered).~~
Edit: nvm, I am just an idiot.
The outer square is not given or fixed, it is the result of the arrangement inside. You pack the squares as tightly as you can and that then results in an enclosing square of some size. If someone finds a better arrangement the outer square will become smaller
I love when I have to do research just to understand the question being asked.
Just kidding, I don't really love that.
But there are 7 squares in the middle with 10 around it, surely that counts for something