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Variables: Dating By Number
Film info
Film summary
Can algebra help a group of unlucky-in-love men find a date? See how manipulating the values in an algebraic equation can skew the outcome.Transcript
This is Garth.
He's convinced that maths holds the answers to all of life's problems.
All you need is an algebraic equation, which uses real world factors that can affect the outcome.
And he's taking on his biggest challenge yet – romance!
"I'm the president of a LAN gaming group where, uh, a bunch of guys get together and play games."
"Um... My favourite ones are strategic type games where like... I like ruling the world!"
"Are there a lot of girls that come to your group?"
"No."
Can Garth prove to these guys that all they need to find that special someone is algebra?
Garth Sundem Mathematician – "My chances of getting a date with someone would depend on factors like how attractive you know you are, you know, how attractive they are... That would be an obvious ratio comparison right there that would affect your chances of getting a date."
It may look baffling, but by inputting values for the factors in this dating equation – like conversational skills or attractiveness – you can use algebra to work out the probability of getting a date!
But the values might be less reliable because they are suggested by friends, or the modest individual himself.
"How witty a conversationalist are you on a scale of 1 to 10"
"I'm fantastically witty"
"What do you guys think?"
"I'd give him a ten."
And these real world factors can be used to calculate a probable outcome.
"Here we got 1, 1.4. We're going to pretty much call this 9, 35... You've almost got like a 95% chance with this girl!"
The guys get ready to put the numbers to the test.
But one is still sceptical.
"You don't wanna do the math!?"
"No, I can do it on my own!"
But who will be successful?
"Good evening, success all around, we've got a yes, yes, yes, right?"
"No..."
"No!? What happened!?"
"I should have followed the math!"
Garth's dating equation does not hold all the answers, but it's an example of how real-world factors can be mathematically related to one another, to give an indication of a probable outcome.
The subjectivity of factors will impact upon how robust the equation really is.
So you need to make sure your numbers are realistic.
