Gary McGuire wrote:
You have 9 squares with side lengths 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. What is the smallest rectangle [in area] you can put them in?
If you mayn't tilt the squares, 20x15. Here's one way. 22..7777777999999999 22..7777777999999999 44447777777999999999 44447777777999999999 44447777777999999999 44447777777999999999 ....7777777999999999 88888888333999999999 88888888333999999999 88888888333..666666. 8888888855555666666. 8888888855555666666. 8888888855555666666. 8888888855555666666. 88888888555556666661
Is there a standard technique for going at this type of question? Is there a general way to go about this with side lengths 1,2,3,....,n, or even with some random set of squares?
Exhaustive search. Anyone know a better way? -- Don Reble djr@nk.ca