Mathematicians have recently solved the moving sofa problem, a puzzle that has intrigued them since 1966. Any sofa bigger than a certain shape will get stuck in a hallway corner, challenging the assumption that larger objects can move more easily. Joseph Gerver proposed a clever curved shape as a potential solution in 1992, leading to further exploration of the problem. Jineon Baek successfully proved that Gerver’s sofa is the largest shape that can maneuver through the hallway. Baek’s unique approach, which didn’t require any computer assistance, has opened up new possibilities for solving optimization problems. This breakthrough has excited mathematicians and offers hope for future advancements in the field.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-largest-sofa-you-can-move-around-a-corner-20250214/