The Mathematics of Dating

How do we decide who will be our partner, how far and wide should be search? This is where mathematics comes in handy. Peter Todd and Geoffrey Miller came up with a nifty little rule of thumb for us to use. The problem of choice (how many available partners at a location?) and uncertainty (of those available how many do I have to interview to determine with reasonable certainty any one of then is the one) can be solved mathematically. Put all the numbers into a computer and it will produce the optimal answer. However, like most simulations the formula is probably on the simplistic side.

So here we go. You are in a bar and there are 100 potentials that meet your criteria of beauty, intelligence and wealth (from another article I wrote - "Turning Mate Nothing Into Mate1", these are the standout attributes both males and females are after in a mate). Since the second two attributes are a little more difficult to determine on looks you will have to concentrate on the first and discover the second and third.

When Todd and Miller threw the data at the computer they came up with 9 potentials (9% out of 100 available) need to be interviewed. This is the strategy, randomly find the first person that meets your criteria, and determine whether he or she meets your other criteria. If not move to the next random potential. Once you have reached 9 and have not found the right one go to the next bar. If you find a match you can make more exciting discoveries providing your potential mate sees you as fitting his or her criteria.

This is a complexity that challenged Todd and Miller when they put the computer formula together. So back to our 9%, if you interview fewer than 9%, you run the risk of not meeting the right one, if you interview more than nine you run the risk of overlooking The One in the potentials you have already interviewed.

The same approach can be used for online dating. Enter your criteria: Asian dating; interview 9%; if the potential does not exist move to another country or another set of criteria, e.g. military dating. Although I found when I was looking there were hundreds of potentials. I didn't interview 9% before I found my partner, I am happy.

Who we finally fall in love with is going to be the result of a mixture of factors. The right place at the right time, a plethora of physical and personal characteristics written on the form at a speed dating event, the day of our menstrual cycle (the subject of another article I will be writing), their looks and their smell. One thing is for sure there is a special someone out there and almost certainly there is more than one.

I am a scientist by training and I met my partner on the Internet, we are still together. I do not remember giving her the sniff test - that's what subconsciousness is all about. Visit my website where other articles are written on the science side of the mating game.

All the very best.

Please use material in this article for your small talk and get a smile: http://www.singledatingservices.org

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