CCP is using the correct math for finding a spot in 3 dimensions.

Each probe can find the distance to a target. With one probe, that gives you a sphere of all of the spots that are that distance from it - the target lies somewhere on that sphere. With two probes, it is the intersection of two spheres which is a circle. Three probes will give you the intersection of two circles - two points. Four probes will give you one point.

You do not need more than four probes. If you use more than four probes, the code will pick the best four of the probes.

The best arrangement for the probes is where the probes are furthest apart from each other. This lets you get the strongest signal and lock. If all the probes are on the same plane it is difficult to determine if the unknown is above or below the plane - they give similar answer.

So, the best arrangement for the probes is in a tetrahedron (four sided D&D dice) with the unknown near the center. The easiest way to visualize this is three probes in a triangle below the unknown and one above in the center. Another way to think of a tetrahedron is as a wedge with two above in a line and two below in a line rotated 90 degrees.

This will give a better signal and faster time to finding the signature rather than moving the probes around randomly.