Internet

May 20, 2009

The Love Theorem

OkCupid co-founders Chris Coyne and Christian Rudder believe that math is the path to dating success.

Benjamin Samuel

Rather than trusting your instincts, or following your vulnerable heart, it's probably best to leave love to science. According to Chris Coyne and Christian Rudder, two of the co-founders of the free dating site OkCupid, compatibility can be reduced to pure mathematics.

Rudder and Coyne, who first met in Harvard's math department, created a system so intricate and complicated they dubbed it an "UberAlgorithm." Essentially, OkCupid members take tests and their answers are tracked, analyzed, and compared to those of other users in order to develop compatibility percentages. Members can then view their potential matches and begin courting them with messages and digital winks. Test questions (which are developed by staff and users, and many by Coyne and Rudder themselves) run the gamut from the mundane to the perverse; results can tell your dating persona or which infamous serial killer you most closely resemble. (I was "the boy next door" and Ed Gein.)







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Comments

- Internet
- posted on May 20, 09
Vin

They're putting the math "back" into online dating? There was math in online dating at one time? Who knew.

- Internet
- posted on Dec 03, 09
PausingLeming

OkCupid totally rock!
It is by far one of the most original sites out there.
GO-Go-Go guys!

Article by Benjamin Samuel

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