Lucky 9: Mathematician’s Take on Lotto Pot with 433 Winners
A mathematician explored the possibilities.
While the probability of getting the winning Lotto combination is rare, believing on Lucky Nine and taking care of lottery numbers could be the reasons why 433 bettors now share the P236 million pot, a mathematician said Monday.
Consider two factors, said UP Los Baños professor Jomar Rabajante: the chances of winning the 6/55 Lotto and the probability of the winning combination to be picked by bettors.
READ: Mind Blown? How 433 People Won Lotto Jackpot on October 1
What are the odds?
Statistics show that picking any six-number combination between the numbers 1 to 55 gives a bettor approximately one in 29 million chances to win, he told DZBB.
"Assuming meron na tayong nabunot na kombinasyon. Ano ngayon 'yung probability na itong kombinasyon na ito ay mapipili o matataya ng tao? Doon ngayon mag-iiba-iba ngayon ang probability kasi alam natin may mga taong nag-aalaga, may mga taong tinitingnan ang common pattern."
Lucky numbers
Enter Lucky 9, which in Chinese sounds like the word that means "long-lasting", and is often used in the numbers game. On Oct. 1's draw, the winning combination is 9-45-36-27-18-54, all divisible by nine.
"Walang problema doon kasi sabi nga natin lahat ng kombinasyon pare-pareho ng chance mabunot, nagkataon lang na nabunot 'yung multiples of nine e alam natin sikat ito sa maraming tao kasi Lucky 9," said Rabajante.
"Kung titingnan po natin, posible talagang maraming tao nagkataon na iyon ang inaalagaan nila o 'yun 'yung pinipili nila kasi Lucky 9 at nagkataon, sinuwerte lang talaga na 'yun ang lumabas na kombinasyon."
A 2016 study in the Netherlands showed numbers divisible by nine were among the 30 most popular combinations in a 6/45 Lotto game there.
"Many of the thirty most popular combinations form a numeric sequence or spatial pattern" with the majority of sequences forming a vertical or diagonal line, the study said.
In a PCSO Lotto 6/55 ticket, the winning combination can also be seen in a diagonal line, said Rabajante.
"Kung hindi Lucky 9 ang lumabas na kombinasyon, posibleng isa o dalawa lang din po 'yan e kaya lang nagkataon, itong pattern na ito isa sa mga sikat talaga na pattern... Nakakagulat kapag 'di mo hinimay, pero 'pag hinimay mo, masasabi mo may rason."