# Thread: Help with lottery probabilities and statistics I cant figure out

1. ## Help with lottery probabilities and statistics I cant figure out

Hi Guys,
I have spent some time reading and trying to understand lottery math but can't seem to understand how to get the answers to my question.

In a basic lottery you have 49 numbers and you choose 7 (7/49) The odds are 49*48*47*46*45*44*43 / 7*6*5*4*3*2*1 = 85,900,584

Now how about if the lottery was fixed? As in you knew 100% the first number being picked? If the number was 1, 5, or 10, how would you solve that? Knowing the first number is say 5 or 10 greatly reduces odds as the numbers are ranked numerically meaning no other sets of the numbers can be lower than the first number. So a number 10 as the first of seven would mean all 6 other numbers drawn would be between 11-49.

I just want to understand how to adjust my formula if i know the first number for sure.

Thanks!

2. ## Re: Help with lottery probabilities and statistics I cant figure out

Originally Posted by showtimegambler
In a basic lottery you have 49 numbers and you choose 7 (7/49) The odds are 49*48*47*46*45*44*43 / 7*6*5*4*3*2*1 = 85,900,584

Now how about if the lottery was fixed? As in you knew 100% the first number being picked? If the number was 1, 5, or 10, how would you solve that?
The three events, 1) the least number is one; 2) the least number is five; OR 3) the least number is ten are mutually exclusive. That is, exactly one of them does occur
The probability that #2 occurs is $\dfrac{\dbinom{44}{7}}{\dbinom{49}{7}}$

Now find the other two numbers and add all three.

3. ## Re: Help with lottery probabilities and statistics I cant figure out

Hi Plato
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question....however I still have no clue how to solve that equation....can you make it simpler for me? We know there are 7 numbers to be picked and the lowest is 1 5 or 10 I just want to see what the odds of winning are if I know the first number thanks