Possible combinations........?

Question

what is the most number of possible combinations for a 6/42 lotto? how about 6/45? and 6/49?

Answer 1

The first part of the answer give by David W is correct, the second part is "Permutation", not combination.

However, I would refer you to a handy combinations calculator at http://www.betstarter.com/lottery/LottoO...

Answer 2

Odds of winning

6/42 = 42 * 41 * 40 * 39 * 38 * 37  / 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 =

1 in 5,245,786

6/45 = 45 * 44 * 43 * 42 * 41 * 40  / 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 =

1 in 8,145,060

6/49 = 49 * 48 * 47 * 46 * 45 * 44  / 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 =

1 in 13,983,816

Oh wait, combinations...I thought you were asking for the odds of winning, which is what people usually are asking.  If you just want the number of combinations, skip the division.

6/42 = 3,776,965,920 combinations

6/45 = 5,864,443,200 combinations

6/49 = 10,068,347,520 combinations

Answer 3

David, your first set of answers was right. To get the combinations, you need to do the division.

Combinations means that the order does not matter. Mathemcatically speaking 42C6 = 42!/(36!*6!) = 5,245,786.

When you pick lotto numbers, you don't pick the order, you only pick the set of numbers.

Your second set of answers gives the Permutations. This means that the order is important. For example, (1,2) is not the same as (2, 1). Obviously, there are many more permutuations, so you don' t do the division.