Comments on: The Multi-State Lottery Association’s Strange Math http://www.webboise.com/the-multi-state-lottery-association-strange-math/ Chris Hillman's random rants on IT stuff & life Tue, 7 Feb 2012 03:59:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Steve http://www.webboise.com/the-multi-state-lottery-association-strange-math/#comment-14 Mon, 29 May 2006 14:55:09 +0000 http://www.webboise.com/the-multi-state-lottery-association-strange-math/#comment-14 If you read the FAQ on the site it explains it. " A common question is why the odds for winning the prize for matching 1 red ball out of 42 is not 1 in 42. The answer is that you must match the red ball ALONE to win the prize. If you match one or more white balls, you win some other prize, but not this prize. Some persons who enjoy statistics will (they do really exist) come up with odds of 1 in 17 billion. Remember that you don't need to match in exact order - We use combinations and not permutations. " If you read the FAQ on the site it explains it.

” A common question is why the odds for winning the prize for matching 1 red ball out of 42 is not 1 in 42. The answer is that you must match the red ball ALONE to win the prize. If you match one or more white balls, you win some other prize, but not this prize.

Some persons who enjoy statistics will (they do really exist) come up with odds of 1 in 17 billion. Remember that you don’t need to match in exact order - We use combinations and not permutations. “

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