Best Fit for 2-D Shapes in Larger Shape?

[KBean]

Hi, my first post here and I'm not sure I'm in the right place or that I use the proper terms so please bear with me.

I'm a programmer by trade, and I'm working on a project whereby I need to arrive at the best fit for a set of 2-D shapes fitting within a larger shape. Mostly we're dealing with rectangles fitting within a larger rectangle. Is there a generally accepted set of equations for doing this?

 

[lavinia]

Hi, my first post here and I'm not sure I'm in the right place or that I use the proper terms so please bear with me.

I'm a programmer by trade, and I'm working on a project whereby I need to arrive at the best fit for a set of 2-D shapes fitting within a larger shape. Mostly we're dealing with rectangles fitting within a larger rectangle. Is there a generally accepted set of equations for doing this?

there probably is but why not do it by simulation?