I'll point out another common misconception, math based: 1:292' doesn't mean there are 292' possible numbers. It means the combination of your numbers being picked are one 1 in every 292'.. You'll be surprised how often this happens even on big journalism and news sites..
Then, the amount of ticket sales dictates chances to win, is the second most common misconception. They draw from tumbling barrels..
The possible powerball numbers are in the trillions..
You lost me at "misconception". What are you trying to say? There are in fact C(69,5) X C(26,1) possible combinations. If you have one ticket, the probability of winning the top prize is exactly 1/292201338 and the odds of winning top prize are 1:292201337
Why are you saying the possible powerball numbers are in the trillions?
That's the total combinations. Total permutation of combinations is in the trillions.
For any given draw, only one combination is valid. There can be only one permutation of that one combination. You're just being a fuckoff aren't you?
Kind of but the powerball number makes permutation matter since <5 non-powerball numbers have absolute shit prizes even by ghetto standards.. 4+0 with a 10x multiplier won't buy you a ten year old car with a blown motor and buys ghetto food for two-months tops(it's $1,000.00).
Just to give everyone a big picture perspective and since this will probably be the only serious odds discussion here for a long time. Here are the lotteries you'd play if you understand odds and the value of money. In CSV format just made using the most recent values from all existing games:/*sorted type->best_small_prize_odds->best_big_prize_odds excludes >$1 scratch offs and <$1000000 big-name lotteries*/
type,name,ticket price,jackpot,odds,count,small prize,odds,count
scratchoff,mighty bucks,1,5000,760000,12,1,6.82,1337600
scratchoff,lucky 7s,1,7000,640000,18,1,7.14,1478400
scratchoff,2016,1,2016,744000,10,1,10,744000
scratchoff,gimme 5!,1,5000,696000,10,1,10.34,672800
scratchoff,pot of gold,1,4000,840000,8,1,10.34,649600
scratchoff,5000 fiesta,1,5000,900000,8,1,10.34,696000
scratchoff,$50 mayhem,10000,1480000,6,1,10.34,858400
scratchoff,5x the cash,1,10000,984000,10,1,10.71,918400
scratchoff,blackjack,1,4000,720000,10,1,11.11,648000
scratchoff,bronze 7s,1,5000,960000,8,1,11.11,691200
bigticket,megamillions,1,arbritrary,258890850,arbritrary,1,21,arbritrary
bigticket,powerball,2,arbritrary,292201338,arbritrary,4,38,arbritrary
"bigticket" is there really just for reference even though MegaMillions odds are only 3.07x that of best scratch-off at same ticket price.. I probably should have done odds for exponential/100%-profit payouts too for small-prize.