Lotteries are played by millions of people every day but there are relatively few winners of big prizes.
The odds of winning are not in our favor.
Let us try to understand the odds of winning the lottery using an everyday object...sheets of paper.
Note: The math we will be using works super easy in metric.
A Stack of Papers
To build our stack of papers, we need to start with a single sheet.
A sheet of paper has a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm.
So one would need 10 sheets of paper to have a thickness of 1 millimeter.
Now that we have a millimeter, we would need 1000 times that amount to make a meter.
And now that we have a meter, we would need 1000 times that to make a Kilometer.
10,000,000 sheets of paper would be 1 Kilometer tall.
Like I mentioned, the math is super easy. We would need to divide the lottery odds by 10,000,000.
As it turns out, when we divide the odds by 10,000,000, we actually end up with 10% of the odds. That is what we will call the "stack of paper 10% Rule".
Example:
Let us use a lottery with the format of 6 numbers from a pool of 49 numbers, the odds of winning are 1 in 13,983,816.
With the simple math, 10 percent of 13,983,816 would be 1.398. So the stack of paper would be 1.398 Kilometers high to represent the odds of winning the lottery.
Sometimes it is difficult to imagine something high or vertical, especially something which is 1.398 Kilometers high.
To make it easier, let us take the 1.398 KM stack of paper and lay it on its side.
Distances horizontally are easier to comprehend than distances vertically because we traverse horizontal distances all the time.
Now it is easier to picture. It may be only 1.398 Kilometers to the gas station, or the corner store.
This is something more imaginable and easier to grasp.
An average walking speed is 5 kms per hours, so a brisk 17 minute walk would bring you to 1.398 Kilometers.
But still, a stack of papers on its side stretching the length of 1.398 Kilometers, then choose 1 random sheet. That would represent the odds of winning with your lottery ticket. On the draw date, the lottery will choose a single sheet of paper as its winner.
Those are the odds of winning. One sheet of paper in a pile papers laying on its side stretching 1.398 Kilometers.
Now the Bigger Lotteries
Now lets look at some of the bigger lotteries, like Powerball and MegaMillions.
The odds of winning Powerball are 1 in 292,201,338, and with MegaMillion, it is 1 in 302,575,350.
The stack of paper math is the same - divide by 10,000,000 or use the 10% rule.
The stack of paper on its side for Powerball would be 10% of 292,201,33 or 29.2 Kilometers long, and MegaMillions would be 10% of 302,575,350, or 30.2 Kilometers long.
We are no longer looking at a brisk walk anymore, but a short car ride.
A roughly 30 Kilometer distance could be right across the city, or even between neighboring towns.
Now picture a stack of paper on its side stretching that same length, and now choose a random sheet of paper.
Well, those are the odds for the bigger lotteries.
Conclusion
I hope this example brings the odds into perspective.
It is no wonder why it is difficult to win the lotteries.
Your ticket is one of the sheets of paper, and then on draw date, a sheet of paper is chosen.
What are the odds of both those sheets of paper being the same?
Possible - Yes. Probable - No.
How Can I Increase My Odds of Winning?
You can increase your odds by using chosen number selections when playing the lotteries.
Our numbers do give a better chance at winning than random selections or favorite numbers.
Since we are not choosing duplicates selections from our pools, there are better odds of winning a major prize because with more unique selections come more possibilities of winning.
It is just that simple.
Notes
Note 1: Paper comes in thicknesses between 0.05 mm and 0.01 mm. We chose the thinner stock because it makes the math so much easier.
Note 2: For our viewers who use the imperial system:
- 1.398 KM = 0.868 Miles
- 29.2 KM = 18.144 Miles
- 30.2 KM = 18.77 Miles