T-016: s(n)≥22529/5000 for n=18,19, by monotonicity from T-015

V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102 and T-103

2026-08-21 published · Massaccesi after Burns · n=18,19

s(18)≥22529/5000 and s(19)≥22529/5000, by monotonicity from T-015 (a packing of n >= 17 unit squares contains a packing of 17). At n=19 this replaces Nagamochi's 1 + sqrt(12) = 4.4641... since (22529/5000 - 1)^2 = 307265841/25000000 > 12; at n=20 the certificate does not improve 1 + sqrt(13) = 4.6055... since that square is below 13, and nothing changes.

Significance, composition and next rung
Significance
The same movement carried to n=18 (+0.079587 over T-002) and n=19 (+0.0416984 over Nagamochi's 1 + sqrt(12), the first movement of that case's verified lower bound since 2005); the derivation adds one line beyond T-015 and inherits its source and credit.
Composition
Derived: the minimum over T-015 and the monotonicity step, which is one recorded line carried in the evidence limitations and the n-018 and n-019 case bodies; T-015 sits at V3/C3, so the derived claim keeps the rungs.
Next rung
Rises with T-015; a bespoke n=18 or n=19 certificate stronger than the inherited bound would be a new result, not a rung change. Superseded as the verified lower bound on 2026-09-04 by T-019, which carries 459/100 to n=18 and n=19 by the same monotonicity step this result uses, from a larger base. This result stays true as stated and keeps its rungs.
Novelty
previously-published Present in an identified source

The cases

Case record

n=18

4.704.823
456
4.2435.243
nn+1

Proven

4.70500≤s(18)≤4.822876

  • exact

Citation record n-018

lowerwand125 after Tokoharu, Levy et al. 2026, GitHub (confirmed T-102)

upperHämäläinen 1980, Squares in Squares

Open

  • optimality

The case record

LowerUpper
Gap72−241200≈ 0.11787565…
Case record

n=19

4.824.886
456
4.3595.359
nn+1

Proven

4.82500≤s(19)≤4.885619

  • exact

Citation record n-019

lowerwand125 after Tokoharu, Levy et al. 2026, GitHub (confirmed T-103)

upperWainwright 1979, Squares in Squares

Open

  • optimality

The case record

LowerUpper
Gap423−7340≈ 0.06061808…

Results on these cases

22 results in the register on n=18,19, oldest first, each with what it established and how it stands now.

  1. 2005 published T-007 · n=18,19

    s(n)≥min(⌈n⌉,n−2⌊n⌋+1+1) for 4≤n≤324

    V0 C1 lower bound incomplete on these cases, superseded by T-102 and T-103

    Nagamochi · Nagamochi 2005 · source · register

  2. 2026-08-21 published T-016 this result · n=18,19

    s(n)≥22529/5000 for n=18,19, by monotonicity from T-015

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102 and T-103

    Massaccesi after Burns · Burns–Massaccesi n17 · packet · register

  3. 2026-08-31 established T-002 · n=18

    s(18)≥4426213/1000000, by monotonicity from T-001

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102

    Levy after Bentz · register

  4. 2026-08-31 established T-003 · n=18

    The sixteen-point set's unavoidability ceiling lies in [4426213/1000000,4427/1000)

    V3 C3 method limit confirmed

    Levy after Bentz · register

  5. 2026-09-04 established T-019 · n=18,19

    s(n)≥459/100=4.59 for n=17,18,19

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102 and T-103

    Levy after Burns, Massaccesi · register

  6. 2026-09-04 established T-020 · n=19

    s(n)≥24/5=4.80 for n=19,20,21

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-103

    Levy after Burns, Massaccesi · register

  7. 2026-09-04 published T-085 · n=18,19

    Nagamochi 2005, Lemma 1 is false for every container with a>3 and b>2

    V3 C3 correction confirmed

    Karakuş; chelokot · Karakuş 2026 · chelokot Nagamochi counterexample 2026 · packet · register

  8. 2026-09-18 established T-027 · n=18

    s(18)≥467/100=4.67

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102

    Levy after Burns, Massaccesi · register

  9. 2026-09-19 established T-028 · n=18

    s(18)≥187/40=4.675

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102

    Levy after Burns, Massaccesi · register

  10. 2026-09-19 established T-029 · n=18

    s(18)≥1871/400=4.6775

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102

    Levy after Burns, Massaccesi · register

  11. 2026-09-19 established T-030 · n=18

    s(18)≥4679/1000=4.679

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102

    Levy after Burns, Massaccesi · register

  12. 2026-09-27 published T-045 · n=18,19

    Rectangle-density lower bounds replayed at 15 counts in n=18…78

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102 and T-103

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 rectangle bounds 2026 · packet · packet · source · review · register

  13. 2026-09-27 published T-046 · n=18,19

    Rectangle-density lower bounds reported for 48 counts in n=18…95

    V0 C0 lower bound recorded superseded by T-102 and T-103

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 rectangle bounds 2026 · wand125 rectangle bounds 2026-09-28 · packet · packet · register

  14. 2026-09-29 published T-058 · n=18,19

    Rectangle-certificate ceiling α·UB(n) proved for n=1..100; B·UB(n) on 64 grid rows

    V3 C3 method limit confirmed

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Daniel · wand125 tools 2026 · packet · register

  15. 2026-09-29 published T-083 · n=18,19

    s(n)≥1/2+n−⌊n⌋+1/4 for every nonsquare 8≤n≤324

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed on these cases, superseded by T-102 and T-103

    Karakuş · Karakuş 2026 · source · register

  16. 2026-10-01 published T-068 · n=19

    Rectangle-density lower bounds verified at 34 counts in n=19…95

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed on these cases, superseded by T-103

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 rectangle bounds 2026-10-01 · packet · source · review · register

  17. 2026-10-01 published T-074 · n=19

    Rectangle-density lower bounds replayed at 31 counts in n=19…95

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed on these cases, superseded by T-103

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 rectangle bounds 2026-10-01 · packet · packet · source · review · register

  18. 2026-10-05 published T-096 · n=18

    Mixed rectangle-measure lower bound replayed at n=18, on a net the certificate declares

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 mixed bounds finer net 2026-10-05 · packet · source · review · register

  19. 2026-10-06 published T-099 · n=18

    Mixed rectangle-measure lower bound verified at n=18, on a finer declared net

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-102

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 mixed bounds finer net 2026-10-06 · packet · source 1 · source 2 · review · register

  20. 2026-10-06 published T-100 · n=19

    Mixed rectangle-measure lower bound verified at n=19, past the best 18-square packing

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed superseded by T-103

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 mixed bounds finer net 2026-10-06 · packet · source · review · register

  21. 2026-10-06 published T-102 · n=18

    Mixed rectangle-measure lower bound verified at n=18, on the finest declared net yet

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 mixed bounds check2 2026-10-06 · packet · source · review · register

  22. 2026-10-06 published T-103 · n=19

    Mixed rectangle-measure lower bound verified at n=19, on the finest declared net yet

    V3 C3 lower bound confirmed

    wand125 after Tokoharu, Levy, Stromquist, Nagamochi, Burns, Massaccesi · wand125 mixed bounds check2 2026-10-06 · packet · source · review · register