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This is to correct the calculations presented by Don Payne. Payne’s calculations are correct only under the following terms of reference: the same number can be chosen more than once; the
chosen six numbers must be in a particular order. The actual requirements (praise the lotto gods) are: a number can be chosen only once and the six numbers chosen can be in any order.
Therefore, the number of ways (or combinations) in which 6 numbers could be drawn from 49 is: 494847464544 = 13,983,816 654321 Any chances of my paying off the mortgage on my house and
taking my wife out to dinner are therefore, on any 1 ticket, about 1 in 14 million -- not the 14 billion Payne has proffered. Incidentally any Junior Cambridge/Middle School student of
Montfort Boys’ High School, Yercaud, Madras, India, where I first learned the equation 42 years ago, could have identified it. I am advertising the school because, having been in your great
country 9 years now, and being homesick enough to want to make contact with Old Montfortians, I am hoping that you’ll be a good sport and print this letter. HUGH A. MARLEY Mission Viejo _
The Times received 15 letters in response to Don Payne’s calculations. All but one agreed that the winning Lotto odds are one in 13,983,816. _
