Finding the Probability of Winning the Texas Lottery 

@MiekWave people actually did this; the jackpot was larger than the number of tickets so they tried to buy all possible combinations, however, they ran out of time. they still did manage to get the winning ticket though.

@IsraeliXdude well, those are independent events, so you would multiply the individual probabilities together

That's the thing about the statistics; despite the infinitesimally small chance of winning someone always does. I still have to throw my hat in the ring lol. I always do. My time is today. Yeaa!!!

If you choose 5 numbers from 1 to 56, first multiply 1*2*3*4*5 and get 120, now multiply 56*55*54*53*52 and get 458,377,920 now divide that by 120 and get 3,819,816 now multiply that times 46 and get 175,711,536 and your odds of winning are 1 in 175,711,536

@latinluigi well, odds are different than probabilities

Your videos are so helpful. Thank you for all of your tutorial videos. They are all fantastic.

The Texas Lotto game actually has a much higher probability for winning, relatively speaking. In the Texas Lottery you select 6 from a field of 54. I think this is the multi-state Mega Millions game, though I suppose in Texas it is referred to as the Texas Millions. I like your vids btw, very clear and concise explanations. Hard to find in a Calc II instructor!

After a quick 3-4 video refresher I was able to understand many questions better, thanks!

@its123baby yep, you sure do

my pleasure waranle!

i try to make my explanations as simply as possible... but not too simple!

so you choose a total of 12, and of the seven that making the winning lotto number, you have to have those 7, correct?

Dream Breaker, Heart Breaker, but it is very entertaining to learn how to calculate the chance to win : )

Okay so I'm smiling again :) I am preparing for GATE (An engineering graduates exam here in India.) and I was very worried about how I am gonna go with this probability chapter but thanks a Ton to you.

@yingdiskette okie dokie.

@xSirFarisx yep, might as well not be you

i will try!

The way you describe is excellent,It's calculus made easy.

I've been playing the Texas lottery off and on for the past 18 years, and I am done with the game. They added the "Extra!" feature this past Sunday that works much like Powerplay or Megaplier, but the odds of winning are still 25 Million to 1. Jackpots now only go up by $250,000, the game will probably never break $10 Million again. The TLC should have dropped the numbers in their ball matrix down to 49 or 50 for better odds if they wanted to boost sales.

Great video Patrick. Please keep them coming..

yep, fo sho : ) i am not expecting either to happen to me

Correct! You choose a total of 12 out of 34. Of those 12, 7 ought to be correct to hit the winning number. Thank you for your quick response.

@hydrobot2003 yes, just not to you

well, i dont know about that : ) i sort of like driving on paved roads, having public schools, having public parks, hospitals, firemen, policemen, public attorneys, etc., etc., etc. : ) However, as one can see from the US economic bailout plan, a lot of money gets wasted too unfortunately. now our tax dollars support people who make wooden arrows for children... what a waste! this is why all of u must study and change the world for the better! : ) or just suck it up and carry on!

@damnd1907 and your point is... ?

@gnyhwy that sounds about right to me.... not to hard to figure out : )

@gix500 Its 1 over (36 factorial divided by (29 factorial times 7 factorial)) which = 1/8,347,680 = approximately 0.00000011979

Hi Patrick, I congratulate you about the vids you're showing. They are very helpful. I have a question though for another lottery scheme. The lottery has a total of 34 numbers of which 7 must be right to win the lottery. But you can pick 12 numbers (out of 34) from which only 7 must be the winning numbers. How do you find this probability?

just drop it off in austin

You're a hero.

Can't win if you don't play. Someone will eventually win. It happens all the time. :-)

Factorial is nothing but multiplication. i.e 56! = 56x55x54x53x52x51x50.................x1 therefore the value of 56! is divided by 51! and 5! and then it is multiplies and subtracted with 1/46 then you get the figure. Hope this helps. to be honest its a hell lot os calculations. Suggestion:- Learn probability perfectly. For more info watch movie:- The 21. which is a real story.

@llorkcir2 i have thought about making some; was not sure anyone would be interested

What is your opinion of a man that has a Mathematical equation or formula to predict winning Mega Millions numbers and Powerball numbers?

What is probability of you winning lotto in Texas and while going to collect your prize you are struck by lightning?

Well...you have to play to have a chance..and I think the best way to go is quick pick...most of the winners in history almost always played quick pick... and if its your destiny, then you might win...

thanks alot- i used your model to work out the probability to win the euromillions tonight! its a 80 million pound rollover! We have 5 balls 1-50 then two "special" balls 1 to 11 its a bit easier than yours 0. 000 000 008 581 but i think I'm still gona need a lot of luck!!

I don't get it, there is 1 combination of the 5 balls you choose, and there are 56^5 combinations in your sample space, so your chances of having the right "combination" is 1/56^5? Is it because the sequence matters? or that the choosing of each ball is dependent? or that there can't be duplicates?

But what about those who have? How many times do you have to play?

Excellent. I had guessed 1 billion to one. However, you moved over to the right side of the decimal, and it was about 1 trillion (pico) to one. Is that correct?

Thank you

even tho it's much smaller than the lightning the lightning is still very small as well it's unlikey that either would ever happen to you

do ya get as much if u win though?! : )

I wonder if there's a way to make winning more likely, like the equivelant of flying a kite in a thunderstorm! :)

or it can be looked at as the probability of winning the texas lottery: your chances of going outside and falling into a volcano are more likeley to happen that winning a full lottery draw.

are you off by one number? i came up with .00000000569 (8 zeros, not 9 zeros preceding the 569)... 1 / 175,711,536 = 5.691 X 10 ^ -9

@bubaabaa lol

@damnd1907 I would like to see a mathematical answer for that, but the simple rational to me would be that there are much more people attempting to win the lottery than there are attempting to get struck by lightning. LOL.

im in my house

i luv u, thanx ur great!

How many have won teacher

the odds are written on the back of the ticket

There is a lesson to learn here: do not play the lottery unless you have been struck by lightening.

I figure you have the same chance of winning the lottery wether you play or not.

a few moths back someone in my city won it I was pissed

@jiro32 actually, he's correct, sorry :/

In the back of the megamillions ticket says 1 between 175,000,000 the chances to win the jackpot, more simple...

tag

That's the PowerBall or MegaMillions...This is Not The Texas Lottery

Pretty sure if every person in US would buy a ticket for sure someone would win. Lets see .00000000056911 x 300,000,000 (US population) = .01707.... wow that is one percent chance! how come someone win every month?

I NEED HELP WITH THE TXLOTTERY Mega Millions

Strictly as a banker... Mister Bond... The numbers are NOT ON YOUR SIDE!

@Uqload actually, I still think he's off by one zero, sorry :/

Texas Daily 4 night

LOL, this is what I just learned at school :P

Im in Algebra :D

LEFTY! :D

So If I was an evil millionaire with 25.8 Million dollars and I purchased 25.8 Million tickets with a 1 in 1 chance of winning a jackpot of say, 51.6 Million, I would win $25.8 million back twice!

What ????????????????????

I wish I could win the lotto.

wtf

Hope he is good at math because spelling isn't it.