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About Chanda Walker
Expertise
I can answer word problems involving mathematics at the high school and college level. I particularly enjoy calculus word problems. Please don't just type the math problem without comments. If you don't tell me what problem your having, I can't help.

Experience
Have done word problems as a tutor and as a student of mathematics and physics for years.

Organizations
Sigma Xi

Education/Credentials
Optical Science PhD

Past/Present Clients
I've answered hundreds of questions here at AllExperts.com in algebra, physics and general math sections.

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Science > Math for Kids > Word Problems > lottery probabilties

Word Problems - lottery probabilties


Expert: Chanda Walker - 3/28/2009

Question
There is a lottery where there are 5 numbers drawn out of 45. You have the
option of picking 7, 9, and 10 numbers out of which you only need to match the
5 drawn numbers. What are your chances of winning, when you choose 7, 9 or
10 numbers. (Numbers are drawn from 1-45). Thanks

Answer
The way I think about this is that there are 5 red balls and 40 blue balls in a bag.  The red balls represent the 5 winning lottery numbers.  You want to draw ALL 5 out of the bag.  You get to pick draw 7, 9 or 10 numbers.  

Choose 7:

The number of ways to pick 5 red and 2 blue:

5C5 * 40C2 =  1 * 780

The number of ways to pick 7 out of 45 is:

45C7 = 45379620

The ratio of these are: 1/58179 or ~0.000017
******************
Choose 9:
The number of ways to pick 5 red and 4 blue:
5C5 *40C4 = 91390

The number of ways to pick 9 out of 45 is:
886163135

The ratio:
2/19393
**********************
Choose 10:
5 red and 5 blue:
658008

10 out of 45:
3190187286

The ratio:
4/19393


If you don't understand the 40C4 notation, just let me know and I'll explain that fully.  

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