This rule states that by dividing your own age by two and then adding seven you can find the socially acceptable minimum age of anyone you want to date. So if youre a 24-year-old, you can feel free to be with anyone who is at least 19 (12 + 7) but not someone who is 18.

How old is the youngest you should date?

There is a so-called rule about dating: the youngest age you are supposed to date is half your age plus seven. So, if youre 16, the youngest age you should consider is 15 – because 16 divided by two is eight and 8+7 equals 15. We can write the dating rule as an equation: y = x ÷ 2 + 7 .