1. How to Find a Spouse A Problem in Discrete Mathematics With an Assist From Calculus

2. The Rules of the Game It is generally considered bad form to date seriously two different people simultaneously, so you consider each person one at a time. You can date someone for any length of time, but eventually, you must either “select” them or say “no” and move on to another candidate. Once someone has been passed over, you cannot go back. No is forever. If there are N candidates, how can you maximize the probability that you select your best match?

3. Alternative Interpretations Choosing largest number in a pile Hitting a slow-pitch softball What’s a good strategy?

4. The “Take the First Pitch” Strategy

5. Fix N

6. A Mathematical Model

8. Our Probability Function

11. Can Calculus Help?

15. Calculator Program

16. But, Calculus Can Help

18. Differentiable Approximation

19. Define a Continuous Variable

21. What is Our Probability of Success?

22. The Moral?