Odds of 250,000 people having the winning PowerBall ticket number.

Question

I have a question:

I understand that the odds of winning the PowerBall are about 1 in 175,000,000. Assuming that figure is approximately correct, then what are the approximate odds of 250,000 people choosing the correct winning number?

Any help will be appreciated Thanks

sometimes different people choose the same 'magic' number: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/467575/should-i-put-number-combinations-like-1111111-onto-my-lottery-ticket/468258#468258 — Alex, Jan 21 '14 at 02:06

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 21 '14 at 02:57

0

Since ${250000\over 175000000}={1\over 700}$ the odds are approximately 1 in 700.

answered Jan 21 '14 at 02:57

You are assuming that they choose distinct values. – Calvin Lin Jan 21 '14 at 15:34
Yes, it is an approximation. For a more accurate answer, the OP would need to specify more exactly how the quarter million tickets are chosen. – Jan 21 '14 at 16:32
Assuming the question was meant to read (odds of someone winning the lottery), I love this answer. – Display Name Aug 25 '14 at 06:45

Odds of 250,000 people having the winning PowerBall ticket number.

1 Answers1