dove 0 #1 November 1, 2002 Anyone know if you're winners have used random numbers or picked their own? I know it's pathetic, but winning the lotto would be such a dream come true! *sigh* Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enrique 0 #2 November 1, 2002 According to statistics theory, if you play the same numbers every time***, you significantly increase your chances to win. If you win, I get 50% for the tip.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #3 November 1, 2002 Statistics don't say this. Every lottery is a new lottery, statistically - it doesn't matter what numbers you played in the past - it's a brand new gamble each and every time. People that play the same numbers have no greater chance than people that play random numbers. Statistically, you have a better chance of getting rich by working hard and saving for your retirement. But I have no problem with the lottery - people that are bad at math should be financially punished for it.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,452 #4 November 1, 2002 I like the lottery. Such a range of chance -- by buying a $1 ticket, I increase my chances of winning both infinitely, and not at all Wendy W. There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #5 November 1, 2002 the day i win the lottery everybody at the DZ jumps for free.. of course if i actually played more often maybe my chances would improve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enrique 0 #6 November 1, 2002 it doesn't matter what numbers you played in the past - it's a brand new gamble each and every time. *** I disagree. The lottery uses a limited number of balls (lets say there are only 52) In order to win you need to match a 5 number combination Therefore, the chances of YOUR particular combination coming up in the draw ARE reduced everytime they start the lottery machine. It's hard to explain, but it's true. Think of it this way: if you have 1 in a 1,000 chance of your combination coming up in the draw, what would your chances be if you keep changing that combination? From the other point of view: if you have a 1 in 1,000 chance of your combination coming up in the draw, and you use the same combination the second time, you will have a 2 in a 1,000 chance of winning, since your combination did not come up the last time. And so on..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #7 November 1, 2002 Hey! I was never bad at math, quite the contrary in fact. That doesn't change the fact that I am unemployed right now though. I have only purchased about 3-5 tickets in my entire lifetime, but I look at the jackpot growing and SOMEONE out there will win it. One thing is for sure, if I don't play it won't be me. (See, I told you I was good at math.) Just curious cause everytime I have played (all within the last year - mostly since I shattered my leg and couldn't work) I have done the random number thing and I tend to get mostly low numbers (1-20) and the winning numbers seem to always be higher. Hmmmm - just curious anyhow. I still find it hard to part with my $1 for such a small chance, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #8 November 1, 2002 Quotethe day i win the lottery everybody at the DZ jumps for free.. Be careful when you make promises... You're way more likely to win $50 than a million. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #9 November 1, 2002 I don't ever play the lottery. I've only bought a ticket once, when the jackpot was huge and a bunch of us from work went and bought them. That night when they read the numbers, I looked down at my ticket and thought, "I just paid $1 to be disappointed." Not that I don't fantasize about what I'd do if I won it. Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #10 November 1, 2002 the texas lottery rocked when it first came out. everybody won. you could actually make money off of it. my cousins dad won $10,000 on the mockingbird ticket which was their second game ticket. i won $500 on a $10 ticket a couple of years ago. now the lottery sucks. it doesn't pay as much so you never win. i haven't bought a lottery ticket in forever except for 2 i got in w. virginia during bridge day and a halloween ticket i got today. and of course it lost. i ocassionally play the big lotto with the numbers. i figure the odds are now about the same. levin vSCS#3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
homer 0 #11 November 1, 2002 Quote the day i win the lottery everybody at the DZ jumps for free.. Its the day I buy a better jump plane and everybody buys a jump ticket with a case of beer CSA #699 Muff #3804 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #12 November 1, 2002 QuoteIt's hard to explain, but it's true. Think of it this way: if you have 1 in a 1,000 chance of your combination coming up in the draw, what would your chances be if you keep changing that combination? 1 in 1000. Seriously. Each draw is independant, since the pool of possible outcomes does not change between lotteries. QuoteFrom the other point of view: if you have a 1 in 1,000 chance of your combination coming up in the draw, and you use the same combination the second time, you will have a 2 in a 1,000 chance of winning, since your combination did not come up the last time. And so on..... By your logic, if I flip a coin and get heads, the next time I flip the coin I must get tails. This is obviously false. Take it from the kid with the discrete mathematics textbook on his shelf, your odds are the same whether you always use the same number or always use a different number, assuming that the pool of numbers to be drawn from isn't modified. If, on the other hand, a number is removed from the pool once it is drawn, then your hypothesis would be correct. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enrique 0 #13 November 1, 2002 If, on the other hand, a number is removed from the pool once it is drawn, then your hypothesis would be correct.*** Well, in this case it is not a number that is removed, but the possibility of the same combination showing up again. Anyway, I think I'm getting dizzy . I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket and have a beer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #14 November 1, 2002 Plus, what if you bought the same numbers every week, then one week forgot to buy a ticket, then THOSE NUMBERS WON!!!!!!!!!!!Skydiving is for cool people only Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #15 November 1, 2002 that would really suck... on the odd times i do play i always use my social (it breaks up into numbers that fit) and then just pick whatever number float in thru the ether... oh yeah..i meant WIN the lottery..the small payouts ive gotten from time to time are only reembursment for previous losses. ____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #16 November 1, 2002 Quote Plus, what if you bought the same numbers every week, then one week forgot to buy a ticket, then THOSE NUMBERS WON!!!!!!!!!!! See, that's the day you should NOT go skydiving....or even leave your house. And lord knows, don't take a shower either, because wayyyyy more slipnfalls happen there than anywhere else. Yes, that would suck. Badly. And that is why I don't play the lotto....aside from the fact I can't afford to spend the dollar... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #17 November 1, 2002 Quote Well, in this case it is not a number that is removed, but the possibility of the same combination showing up again. Anyway, I think I'm getting dizzy . I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket and have a beer. I still insist that I'm right. But anyway... Statistics is a freaky (and difficult) science. I sure didn't realize how hard it was until I took a college level stats class. Take, for example, Let's Make a Deal. You know the game: You have three doors. One car. Two boobie (hehe) prizes. You pick one. Monty Hall opens one of the other doors to reveal a boobie prize. You have the option to let it ride or change your mind. What do you do? As weird as it sounds, you are at a statistical disadvantage if you stay with the same door, and at a distinct advantage if you change your mind to the one remaining closed door. Ask Google about the Monty Hall Problem for more mindbending info about this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #18 November 1, 2002 Arghhhh! With my luck lately I shouldn't shower at all! But then again.... EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! Certainly wouldn't help me with my career or get me laid. So I'll take the chance. Guys seem to like chicks that smell good. That's one thing I can do. Besides, my mind is so dirty I have to keep super clean on the outside just to maintain my balance! Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bwilling 0 #19 November 1, 2002 QuotePlus, what if you bought the same numbers every week, then one week forgot to buy a ticket, then THOSE NUMBERS WON!!!!!!!!!!! What if you bought a winning ticket that ... ugh... wasn't? www.txlottery.org/news/view_press_release.cfm?id=341 "If all you ever do is all you ever did, then all you'll ever get is all you ever got." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #20 November 1, 2002 How in the world do people fall for crap like that?! I'll bet that origami boulder website is really jumping with christmas sales! Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enrique 0 #21 November 1, 2002 As weird as it sounds, you are at a statistical disadvantage if you stay with the same door, and at a distinct advantage if you change your mind to the one remaining closed door. *** O.k. now think about this: The two boobie prizes and the car are switched around for the second, third, and subsequent rounds. What happens if you stick to door number 1? BTW, why would you want to win a car when you can win the boobie prizes? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #22 November 1, 2002 I already have 2 boobie prizes that I play with daily. I want the million dollar prize! Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enrique 0 #23 November 1, 2002 Quote I already have 2 boobie prizes that I play with daily. I want the million dollar prize! *** Will you share with me? And I am not interested in money btw. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dove 0 #24 November 1, 2002 Sure! I am very generous! Besides, I have been too busy all week playing with my newly shaved self (OMG! So soft and smooth!) and my boobies are starting to feel neglected anyhow. Fall in dove. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #25 November 1, 2002 QuoteO.k. now think about this: The two boobie prizes and the car are switched around for the second, third, and subsequent rounds. What happens if you stick to door number 1? Since they are seperate rounds, the events are statistically identical. If you always stick with door number 1, you will always have a 33% chance of winning (assuming, as always, that the prizes are distributed at random). If you always change your mind after Monty shows you one of the boobie prizes, you will always have a 66% chance of winning. This game, and the lottery, and are called independent events in statistics terminology. That means that one trial (time playing the game, lottery drawing, whatever) doesn't affect further trials. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
