Love is a complex thing. It feels great to be in love, but sucks like all hell when it falls apart. We spend a good portion of our time looking for love – craving the acceptance and harmony that comes with finding our person. Unfortunately, sometimes the search is easier said than done and we get our hearts broken along the way. However, one mathematician, Hannah Fry has come up with a special formula that may explain how to choose the perfect person. And we have it here for you today, so if you’re single or unhappy with your current relationship, take notes.
Many relationships share certain patterns, meaning that many people happen to behave in the same way. For example, 34% of people will wait longer to hold hands, than to kiss their significant other. Patterns are what allow mathematicians to find formulas, which can create more successful for a person during unpredictable events like falling in love and looking for their ideal partner. This formula works due to optimal stopping theory – which basically means choosing the right time to act in order to achieve the best possible results.
For example, imagine that you want to get married before the age of 35, and begin dating when you’re 15. According to the mathematic formula, you shouldn’t consider anyone for a life-long commitment during the first 37% of your dating life. But the person that comes after that 37% period is your ideal partner. If you’re your first relationship begins at the age of 15, then mathematically, you won’t begin to find potentials for an ideal partner until after you’re 22 years-old.
Naturally, there will always be risks in love even when strictly following the math. For example, your ideal partner could be in the first 37% and you reject them, or the next partner after the first 37% may not be that great, but you end up spending your life with them. Regardless, the formula can work, and you can possibly increase your chances of finding love with it.
There are some other tells to the formula that can help when weeding out potential partners. For example, the personality of a date can be analyzed based on their punctuality. People who are on time are more agreeable, as they tend to think of others and like to follow a clear plan. Those who show up earlier than the scheduled time tend to be more neurotic, but at the same time, they understand their emotions better. So a trade-off.
According to the same research, their shoes can also be an indication of what kind of person they are. People who wear comfortable shoes tend to be more optimistic and willing to help others, while the people who prefer ankle boots may be more afraid of change and show aggression.
And when it comes to searching the internet for love, Hannah Fry says it may not be in your best interest to display your best photos on a dating site. While it may sound weird, math has an explanation for it. As it turns out, a person whose attractiveness is appreciated by many people may actually be less successful and scare off applicants. A person who doesn’t hide their unattractiveness and shows their vulnerable side will actually be more popular amongst potential suitors.
And for those of us lucky enough to have found our love and/or married them already, the work still continues. If you’re unhappy, you need to voice it. The couples who discuss their issues and try to work through the dissatisfaction tend to have a lower rate of divorce than the couples who don’t discuss their relationship issues. Marriage is teamwork.
What do you think of using math to find love or keep love alive in a relationship? Are you single or have you already married your love?
