ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Stable matching polytope

Imagine you and your friends want to pair up and go to the amusement park. However, some of you want to go on different rides or sit next to specific people. To solve this problem, you can create a list of your preferences and match up with the person who has the most similar preferences.

Now, imagine this situation on a much larger scale, with thousands of people trying to match up with each other. This is where the stable matching polytope comes in.

The stable matching polytope is a mathematical concept that helps us find the best possible matches when there are a large number of people with different preferences. It creates a virtual space that represents all the possible combinations of matches.

In this space, each person has a set of preferences ranked from most desirable to least desirable. Using these preferences, they are matched up with another person who also prefers them the most. This is called a stable matching because nobody would try to change their partner if given the chance.

The stable matching polytope uses linear programming to find the best possible stable matching. It creates a set of linear equations and inequalities that represent the preferences of each person and the conditions for a stable matching. These equations and inequalities form a shape in the virtual space, which is called a polytope.

The stable matching polytope helps us solve real-world problems, such as college admissions, medical resident matching, or organ donor matching. It ensures that everyone is matched with the best possible partner and nobody ends up feeling unhappy or left out.