Maths question

[technobear]

Probability of picking 1st ball = 6 / 49
Probability of picking 2nd ball = 5 / 48
Probability of picking 3rd ball = 4 / 47
Probability of picking 4th ball = 3 / 46
Probability of picking 5th ball = 2 / 45
Probability of not picking 6th ball = 43 / 44

This gives 6x5x4x3x2x43 / 49x48x47x46x45x44

However, the ball we failed to pick could also have been 1st, 2nd, etc. so we need to multiply this probability by 6.

Multiply the result by 13,983,816 and you get 258

Or looked at another way, you have six chances to pick the wrong ball and in each of those cases there are 43 possible values for it and 6 x 43 = 258

My head hurts!

 

[ditton]

it has been said that the lottery is a tax on the stupid, but I think that's a bit harsh.

also, if buying a lottery ticket, buy it close to the draw, otherwise you might have much chance of being dead as winning ...

 

[MO!]

I noticed freeview now has Television X or something. You text or phone with the daily code. And they give you a 4 digit number to enter. So, it would only take me 10000 (0000-9999) attempts for a free nights viewing?

 

[Sir Galahad]

1. number: 6 out of 49 = 8.166
2. number: 5 out of 48 = 9.600 x 8.166 = 78
3. number: 4 out of 47 = 11.750 x 78.400 = 921
4. number: 3 out of 46 = 15.333 x 921.200 = 14,125
5. number: 2 out of 45 = 22.500 x 14,125.023 = 317,814
6. number: 1 out of 44 = 44.000 x 317,813.91 = 13,983,816

Which is the very reason why I didn't buy a Loto ticket today (4 million Euro in prize money, one chance in 14 million to win it)