Question

LGBARIDDLE

what is the probability to win a lottery where you can pick 5 numbers out of 100?

Answer 1

\[\frac{1}{100*99*98*97*96}?\]

Answer 2

i assume that the lack of replies here mean that you agree with the @completeidiot ?

Answer 3

I DONT KNOW, IM BAD WITH PROBABILITIES

Answer 4

100C5 combination, right?

Answer 5

Do partial matches count? i.e. Will I win any prize money if I guess 4 out of the 5 numbers?

Answer 6

the whole thing

Answer 7

Can numbers repeat? e.g. is it possible for 40,40,40,40,40 to be a winning combination?

Answer 8

what do you think? can it?

Answer 9

I don't see why not, but it depends on how this particular lottery commission draws the winning numbers.

Answer 10

mathematicians love making things complicated, don't they?

Answer 11

You bet!

If allow repeats, then I'll go with (1/100)^5

Answer 12

either you win or you lose
100% or 0%

Answer 13

LOL, Can't calculate probabilities after the fact.

Answer 14

"safe answers" not allowed

Answer 15

Is there a riddlish trick to this? Are there 100 numbers to choose from, or do I choose 5 numbers from the set {1,0,0}?

Answer 16

again, you're making things too complicated

Answer 17

Safe answers aren't allowed. ;-)

Answer 18

0%, its rigged

Answer 19

in this lottery are there allowed to be repeats of numbers?

Answer 20

what do you think?

Answer 21

i would hope so, otherwise it would make this question too hard for 2 am :P

Answer 22

this is a real lottery

Answer 23

..scenario

Answer 24

If repeats, then (1/100)^5, if no repeats, then I agree with completeidiot's first response.

Answer 25

again.. "safe answers" not allowed

Answer 26

pick one

Answer 27

Then you need to provide more information.

Answer 28

you think of me as too deceitful

Answer 29

probability = 1/(total number of people buying that lottery)

Answer 30

@hartnn is it not possible that no one wins the lottery

Answer 31

@hartnn what if nobody gets the right numbers?

Answer 32

RIGGGEDDDDDDD

Answer 33

there's no subliminal tricks this time

Answer 34

there're*

Answer 35

ok have fun y'all

im going to sleep

Answer 36

so its math only ?

Answer 37

a pinch of liberal arts and discrete mathematics too

Answer 38

Not enough information: Is this the style of a big, state-wide, balls get drawn out of big drum style lottery, or is this more like a scratch-off ticket?

Answer 39

oh,God, i don't even know l of liberal arts .... :(

Answer 40

there are 5 numbers out of 100 in a scratch off lottery ticket?

Answer 41

There could be.

Answer 42

interesting

Answer 43

Imagine a 10 by 10 grid whereon any number between 1 and 100 could be under each scratch-off square.

Answer 44

i bet you're a mathematician

Answer 45

that's the third time you made this too complicated

Answer 46

Then simplify it for me.

Answer 47

I'm not a mathematician per se, but I do earn a living teaching math and science (and occasionally liberal arts..)

Answer 48

there is a lottery. you pick 5 numbers out of 100. then, being a math nerd, you come home and calculate your chances of winning the lottery

Answer 49

Yep, and that's why I don't play the lottery. :-)

Answer 50

it's a rip-off scam by the government. just like casino owners

Answer 51

I call it a tax on people who are bad at math.

Answer 52

Here is my final answer, 'the probability is very small.'

Answer 53

the answer...is an expression..not a sentence

Answer 54

a MATH expression

Answer 55

\[P(win) = \lim_{x \rightarrow smallnumber} x\]

Answer 56

the answer is a serious one

Answer 57

Now I'm going to go drink some hot cocoa and continue reading my David Deutsch book.
Good night.

Answer 58

au revoir

Answer 59

1 in ~24 million?

Answer 60

where are you getting those figures?

Answer 61

there are no hidden messages..the question is as is

Answer 62

probability is 5%

Answer 63

we'll have a lot of billionaires if it was that simple

Answer 64

i have to go now so it seems i have to spill the anwer....

Answer 65

\[\huge \frac{1}{100C5}\]

Answer 66

it's combination.. NOT permutation @CliffSedge and @completeidiot