Is age just a number?

Does age factor affect compatibility in relationships especially marriage? Should they be age mates? What is an acceptable difference in age? These are questions that are often asked. The general age gap is three to five years. Socially, it is more acceptable for an older man to marry a younger woman, however, when it is the other way round society is less accommodating. It is not uncommon for a man to marry a much younger woman who is half his age or even younger.