Mega Millions Record Breaking Jackpot

[Saulty]

It's combinatorics.

You have 56 balls and have to choose 5 correct.

C(56, 5) = 3,819,816 (in Excel the formula is COMBIN(56, 5))

Then you have 46 Mega Balls of which you choose 1.

C(46, 1) = 46

The result:

3,819,816 * 46 = 175,711,536

So, you would have a 1 in 175,711,536 chance of winning with a single ticket.

Thanks. That is what it says on the back of the ticket card. My wife came back with additional tickets. She thinks we have a better chance to win with more tickets. :

 

[reno cool]

if you bet all combinations you're gauranteed a winner, but you don't know how much. I'm sure there are syndicates who have attempted this before.

 

[FreeFall]

I have 30 and I'll give most of my winnings back to the broke state in taxes!

 

[FreeFall]

if you bet all combinations you're gauranteed a winner, but you don't know how much. I'm sure there are syndicates who have attempted this before.

no there are not because it's not a winning proposition...

 

[reno cool]

really? it certainly can be and many probably are

 

[senco78]

all these big jackpots end up getting split cause so many more people buy tickets

 

[Archie]

Big Al with an additional 5 tickets

I'll be amazed if she gets TWO BALLS TONIGHT!

 

[Matty]

Big Al with an additional 5 tickets

I'll be amazed if she gets TWO BALLS TONIGHT!

one time bigal

 

[MonkeyF0cker]

really? it certainly can be and many probably are

Not likely to be in this one.

Depends how many tickets are sold.

 

[l7ustin]

i bought 20 and lost. fuck you lebron james

 

[l7ustin]

Thanks. That is what it says on the back of the ticket card. My wife came back with additional tickets. She thinks we have a better chance to win with more tickets. :

you cut your odds down from 1 in 175m to 1 in 17.5m to 1 in 1.75m everyone should buy 100 tickets

 

[Boner_18]

really? it certainly can be and many probably are

Not sure about the big multistate jackpots but groups certainly do buy all combos for 5-6 ball state jackpots when they are in the 10-20mm. Most recently an Aussie group bought 5mm of 7mm combos in a VA jackpot worth a low teen amount and scored. Buying every combo might be logistically impossible in addition to the risk of multiple winners with a giant multi-state.

 

[wal66]

Oooooooooooooh Teela, your boy Wal got 3 numbers. Does my $7 get me a spot on that couch?

 

[choo]

EAT IT TONI

 

[senco78]

my mom got the powerball
whats that? like $2?

 

[Teela]

We had a gold tournament in Valdosta yesterday so my buddy and I got 40 tickets on the way home.

There is a lot of good that could come from winning that much money but I think I will just see if Teela has a price or not.

You were in Valdosta and didn't let me know? For shame.

Everyone has a price.