On the Mathematics of Social Distancing

Authors

Robert HaasFollow

Abstract / Synopsis

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when spring began to make itself felt, photos showed New Yorkers enjoying the outdoors, while properly socially distanced, by sitting on the grass in a square lattice of circles. But the planners should have consulted a mathematician for the design, because significantly more people (over 15% more) could enjoy the same area safely if the circles were closer packed into a hexagonal lattice.

Recommended Citation

Robert Haas, "On the Mathematics of Social Distancing," Journal of Humanistic Mathematics, Volume 12 Issue 1 (January 2022), pages 217-218. . Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/jhm/vol12/iss1/16

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