You’re misrepresenting the problem though, it’s not about maximising efficiency of an area, but packing the targeted amount of squares inside the smallest square, who’s side lengths are some multiple of the packed squares.
If you posted this under OP then I would agree with you, obviously this is bad efficiency for the waffle for the purposes of syrup filled in holes, but for the definitions of the problem the person you replied to is correct in their explanation.
You’re misrepresenting the problem though, it’s not about maximising efficiency of an area, but packing the targeted amount of squares inside the smallest square, who’s side lengths are some multiple of the packed squares.
If you posted this under OP then I would agree with you, obviously this is bad efficiency for the waffle for the purposes of syrup filled in holes, but for the definitions of the problem the person you replied to is correct in their explanation.
But they added an interesting blurb in the edit, so it wasn’t for naught.
Also, OOP phrased it as unheard of syrup density, which it isn’t because of the interstitial space…