17-Square Packing Puzzle: Solution Likely Tweaked from 1980 Best

Hawaii student John Bidwell's optimal packing of 17 squares into a square stunned math circles. Analysts suggest he likely started from the 1980 best-known packing, slightly breaking symmetry to reach his solution.

2026-09-10 ~ 2026-09-10 · 3 related posts

• How John Bidwell found the optimal 17-square packing may be lost forever — tak3sh8 · 2026-09-10
• Best hypothesis: John Bidwell derived his famous 17-square packing from the best-known 1980 solution — tak3sh8 · 2026-09-10
• Slightly breaking symmetry and optimizing easily reproduces the Bidwell 17-square packing — tak3sh8 · 2026-09-10