Question

To win the jackpot in a lottery in Iowa, participants have to select 6 unique winning numbers out of the numbers 1 through 49 in which the order does not matter. What is the probability of winning the jackpot? State your answer as both a fraction and decimal to at least 10 decimal places. In light of your answer, briefly comment on why one comedian commented several years ago that, "your odds of winning the lottery are about as good if you don't play than game at all than if you do."

Answer 1

If the events are independent, the probability of both/all events occurring is determined by multiplying the probabilities of the individual events.

Assuming that the numbers cannot be repeated,

6/49 * 5/48 * 4/47 * 3/46 * 2/ 45 * 1/44 = ?

Answer 2

.0000000715