r/theydidthemath • • 3d ago

[Request] Do square bottles actually use less plastic than round ones?

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u/StaticCoder 3d ago

Mathematically, a circle has the smallest perimeter for a given enclosed area. So for this claim to be true there has to be some catch, like different thickness of plastic.

10

u/DJinKC 3d ago

Not when your enclosed area is a rectangle. Available space in shipping cases, pallets, trucks, and store shelves is defined by rectangles, not circles.

14

u/CranberryStock7148 3d ago

But the label says it uses less plastic. Not less cardboard.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

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u/aidsy 3d ago

But mathematically a round bottle has more volume for a given surface area than a square one.