Dating Theory Calculator

What Is the 37 Percent Rule?

The optimal stopping rule says you should reject the first about 37% of candidates (roughly $1/e$ of the pool), then choose the next person better than everyone seen so far. For large pools, this strategy gives about a 37% chance of picking the single best match.

Optimal Stopping Math

Reject count for $n$ dates:

$$r = \left\lfloor \frac{n}{e} \right\rfloor$$

Probability of selecting the best candidate:

$$P(\text{best}) \approx \sum_{i=r}^{n} \frac{r-1}{i-1} \cdot \frac{1}{n}$$

Example: with 50 dates, reject the first 18, then commit to the next standout. That is far better than choosing randomly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why 37 percent specifically?

It comes from Euler's number. Rejecting the first $n/e$ candidates balances learning the pool against leaving enough remaining options to find a top match.

Does this guarantee the perfect partner?

No. The strategy maximizes odds, but you can still miss the best person if they appear in the reject window or if no later date beats your benchmark.

Can I aim for top 5 instead of number one?

Yes. Success odds rise when you accept any match in the top few ranks, but the reject window should still be tuned to pool size.

What if people reject me first?

Mutual rejection lowers realized success rate. Include an estimated rejection chance to see adjusted odds.

Is this only for dating?

No. The same math applies to hiring, apartment hunting, and any sequential choice problem with limited recall.

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What Is the 37 Percent Rule?

Optimal Stopping Math

Frequently Asked Questions

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