Strategy Question (the dating problem)

paulish · #1 08-17-2005, 10:17 PM

The Dating problem

Assumptions: [*] You are straight.[*] You have never seen a girl before.[*] You have the option of dating 100 girls.[*] Your goal is to marry THE BEST. You don’t care for second best. And you see no value in sleeping with a lot of women.[*] You can only date one girl at a time, and when you move on, you can never go back.

<font color="red"> Q </font> What strategy optimizes your chances of ending up with THE BEST girl? And what would you say you’re chances are of finding this #1girl in the sample?

I know, some of those these assumptions about YOU, are probably quite unrealistic. And I know there are a lot of wise a** answers here. But there is a mathematical answer as well.

What would you do?

Matt Williams · #2 08-17-2005, 10:19 PM

I'd whip it out and whichever girl came up to me and let me SIIHP would win. Simple.

DemonDeac · #3 08-18-2005, 02:12 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'd whip it out and whichever girl came up to me and let me SIIHP would win. Simple.

[/ QUOTE ]

WINNAH!

fnord_too · #4 08-17-2005, 10:21 PM

Date the first 1/e, then take the first girl better than the best in that bunch. (This should be in the probability forum.)

paulish · #5 08-19-2005, 11:11 AM

that's right, 1/e

You date 37, then marry the first one who score higher than all the previous ones on the blowjob test. Your chances of finding Lovelace is 37%

mason55 · #6 08-19-2005, 11:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Date the first 1/e, then take the first girl better than the best in that bunch. (This should be in the probability forum.)

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't understand why there are replies after this.

OtisTheMarsupial · #7 08-17-2005, 11:08 PM

No, there is not a mathematical answer. It's not a mathematical question.

touchfaith · #8 08-17-2005, 11:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
No, there is not a mathematical answer. It's not a mathematical question.

[/ QUOTE ]

manpower · #9 08-18-2005, 01:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
No, there is not a mathematical answer. It's not a mathematical question.

[/ QUOTE ]
If you assume our hero would be able to appropriately determine the 'best' girl, were he free from the constraints posed in the question, it quickly becomes a mathematical problem.

Jimbo · #10 08-17-2005, 11:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
What strategy optimizes your chances of ending up with THE BEST girl? And what would you say you’re chances are of finding this #1girl in the sample?

[/ QUOTE ]

Pick one girl at random and marry her. Having no other reference before you will have chosen the best girl.