---
title: Knowing when to stop
date: "2006-06-21T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 291
description: Apply the 37% rule to solve optimal stopping problems like hiring or dating. Scan the first 37% of your options to set a baseline, then choose the next candidate that outperforms everyone you previously evaluated.
keywords: [optimal stopping, secretary problem, 37 percent rule, decision making, probability, mathematics]
---

[Mathematics, marriage and finding somewhere to eat](http://plus.maths.org/issue3/marriage/index.html) has a simple solution to all these problems. Whether you're hiring someone, or picking a partner, or finding a house -- or any problem that requires you to pick the best among N choices -- here's the rule.

> Scan the first 37% of choices. Then pick the first one that's better than anything you've seen so far.