In geometry, the paper bag problem or teabag problem is to calculate the maximum possible inflated volume of an initially flat sealed rectangular bag which has the same shape as a cushion or pillow, made out of two pieces of material which can bend but not stretch.
The problem is made even more difficult by assuming that the bag is made out of a material like paper or PET film which can neither stretch nor shear.
According to Anthony C. Robin, an approximate formula for the capacity of a sealed expanded bag is:
where w is the width of the bag (the shorter dimension), h is the height (the longer dimension), and V is the maximum volume. The approximation ignores the crimping round the equator of the bag.
A very rough approximation to the capacity of a bag that is open at one edge is:
(This latter formula assumes that the corners at the bottom of the bag are linked by a single edge, and that the base of the bag is not a more complex shape such as a lens).
Read more about Paper Bag Problem: The Square Teabag, See Also
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