This term in Stage 5 mathematics we are studying probability, therefore I thought I would share the probability of winning Lotto with you all.
Imagine this. There are 45 balls in a bucket. They are numbered from 1 to 45. Six of them will be chosen at random from the bucket. For a few dollars, you get four chances to predict which six numbers will be chosen. Would you play?
There are 8 145 060 different ways to choose six numbers from 45. That gives you four chances in? 8 145 060. That is roughly one chance in 2 million!? If you did this every day, you could expect to win this game once every 5578 years (but you will have spent more than the prize money).
Every week thousands of people play this game. Almost all of them lose their money week after week. In the year 2011, the ‘average’ Australian spent over $1600 on gambling activities.
I know I won’t be buying any lotto tickets.
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