How to Use Math to Find the Best Job Candidate — or Spouse

Business Insider
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<b class="credit">The Mathematics of Love</b>Illustration by Christine Rösch for "The Mathematics of Love" published by TEDBooks.
The Mathematics of LoveIllustration by Christine Rösch for "The Mathematics of Love" published by TEDBooks.

By Jenna Goudreau

Whether you're looking for the best job candidate or the most suitable partner to settle down with, finding The One can be nerve-wracking, since you don't know who else is out there or how they compare to the people you've already met.

Luckily, a simple mathematical strategy called the "optimal stopping theory" can help you find the best person for the job.

Hannah Fry, a mathematician at the UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis in London, explains the theory in her 2014 TED Talk and recently released book, "The Mathematics of Love." Essentially, it helps you pinpoint when to stop searching and make a decision.

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