The following pictures show n unit circles packed inside the smallest known square (of side length s). Most of these have been proved optimal.
1.
2.
3.
s = 2
Trivial.
s = 2 + √2 = 3.414+
Trivial.
s = 2 + 1/√2 + √6/2 = 3.931+
Trivial.
4.
5.
6.
s = 4
Trivial.
s = 2 + 2√2 = 4.828+
Trivial.
s = 2 + 12/√13 = 5.328+
Proved by Graham in 1963.
7.
8.
9.
s = 4 + √3 = 5.732+
Proved by Schaer in 1964.
s = 2 + √2 + √6 = 5.863+
Proved by Schaer/Meir in 1964.
s = 6
Proved by Schaer in 1964.
10.
11.
12.
s = 6.747+
Proved by De Groot in 1990.
s = 7.022+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
s = 2 + 15√(2/17) = 7.144+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
13.
14.
15.
s = 7.463+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
s = 6 + √3 = 7.732+
Proved by Wengerodt in 1987.
s = 4 + √2 + √6 = 7.863+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
16.
17.
18.
s = 8
Proved by Wengerodt in 1983.
s = 8.532+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
s = 2 + 24/√13 = 8.656+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
19.
20.
21.
s = 8.907+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
s = 130/17 + 16/17√2 = 8.978+
Proved by Peikert in 1991.
s = 9.358+
22.
23.
24.
s = 9.463+
s = 2 + 2√2 + 2√6 = 9.727+
s = 6 + √2 + √6 = 9.863+