Will true love last? Mathematical model may provide the answer
Couples wondering if true love will last could find out if they are a match made in heaven by subjecting themselves to a mathematical test. A professor and his team have perfected a model whereby they can calculate whether the relationship will succeed. It a study of 700 couples, Professor James Murray, a maths expert at Oxford University, predicted the divorce rate with 94 per cent accuracy. His calculations were based on the simplest of things - a 15-minute conversation between a couple. They were asked to sit opposite each other in a room on their own and asked to talk about a contentious issue, such as money, sex, or relations with the in-laws. Each couple was told to talk about the same topic - one which they have been at loggerheads for some time - for the whole 15 minutes. Prof Murray and his colleagues recorded the conversation and awarded the husband and wife positive or negative points depending on what was said. The points range from plus four to m...