👉 Matching math is a fundamental concept in discrete mathematics and combinatorics that deals with assigning elements from one set (the set of candidates) to elements from another set (the set of options) such that each candidate is matched with exactly one option, and each option is matched with exactly one candidate. This process ensures that no two candidates are paired with the same option, and no option is left unassigned. For example, in a simple case where we have two sets: candidates {A, B, C} and options {1, 2, 3}, a valid matching could be {A: 1, B: 2, C: null} (indicating A is paired with 1 and B with 2), but not {A: 1, B: 2, C: 3} since C is unmatched. The goal is to find such assignments that satisfy these constraints, often analyzed through graph theory and optimization techniques. Matching problems have applications in various fields, including computer science (e.g., scheduling, network flow), operations research, and resource allocation.
