Abstract
A basic form for a Pade approximant of the hard‐sphere equation of state is proposed. This form incorporates both high and low density limiting behavior and can easily be extended to include any further virial coefficients as they are calculated. Furthermore, addition of a simple term converts the approximant into an accurate equation for hard‐sphere fluids. Hard‐sphere solid behavior can also be estimated using a modification of the approximant, although the results are not as satisfactory as those of the high density hard‐sphere equation of state.