# Dating age rule math

So even somebody your own age is simultaneously too old and too young for you. It turns out that the minimum age this rule allows dating is 14 — for extra credit, can you explain why?

The problem is that both the equation "y = x", which just maps age over time, and "y = x / 2 7", the dating-range formula, are each linear, an so at a certain point the lines grow unrealistically far apart, like where a 60 year old can date a 37 year old.

I see why there's a need for some sort of (legislative/social/whatever) barrier, and I see no better way to address the problem; but the point is that it doesn't work for everyone! Compared to /b/ you are almost flawless This is what is wrong with this fora.

So if you’re 13, you can date anyone over $13 \frac$. That means, to find the oldest age you can date, you have to double your age and take away 14.

But the $13 \frac$ year old can only date people who are at least $13 \frac$ — so you can date them, but they can’t date you. So, if you’re 16, the minimum age you’re supposed to date is 15; the oldest is 18. The youngest you can date is 13 1/2, but the oldest is 12.

And I also like that the current formula does work at the bottom edge of the range where anything that is actually "dating" typically starts; basically "13 is too young, and 14-15 should keep more or less in their grade level."What's wrong with a 60 year old dating a 37 year old?

I mean, I agree that the forumla is flawed, but I disagree on where the flaws start. So this is kinda unclear to me..all of you saying "what's wrong with a 120 year old dating a 40 year old?

I don't think that it's universally right to assume that a 16 or 17 year old isn't old enough to date.