Easy Question for Math Majors about the Lottery...?

Question

Its occured to me from observing my Ohio Lottery Games, that the balls that are randomly drawn, somehow create patterns...and observe certain principles. Any suggestions on an easy way to read those patterns so that i can pick the most likely numbers to be drawn? Thanks!

Its just strange that on the pick 5 recently, a few weeks ago the first numbers of three consecutive drawings were 5 then 2 then 5 then the next 4 drawings the first # were 8 in this formation 8
8
8
5
2
5
then a few weeks later this occured
1
1
1
2
5
2
To me that doesnt seem "random"

Answer 1

With any game of chance, the actual outcomes will often not match the probabilities of what "should" happen. For instance, if you flip a coin 50 times, you will likely not get 25 heads and 25 tails. This is not because the coin is unfair in any way. Over time, as the number of flips increases, the outcomes will come closer to half and half.

It is simply a coincidence that the lottery numbers have been starting with the same digit for a few days in a row. It should not be expected that once 8 has been the first number, it will not be the first number again until 1-7 & 9 have all had one chance.

Every single time one of those balls is chosen, the probability that 6 is chosen is going to be 1/10. If 6 is the first number picked for four days in a row, then the probability it is the first number on the fifth day is 1/10. If there is not a single 6 picked for four days straight, then the probability it is the first number picked on the fifth day is 1/10.

Good luck trying to win big!

Answer 2

In theory there should not be any pattern. These draws are usually under strict control, the balls are weighed to make sure each has an equal probability of being drawn etc. However, supposing that a defect has somehow gone undetected, you can just compile the frequency of each number and bet on the ones that come out most often.

Better yet, take your lottery money and invest it instead.

Answer 3

You're on the edge of discovering there's such a thing as group theory. If you put a bunch of green balls and a bunch of red balls in there in place of the numbered ones, you'd see distinct patterns instead of having the two mix exactly evenly and homogeneously. But the math modelling won't help you with the lottery. The winning numbers really are random.

Answer 4

The pattern is random. The best way to select numbers if you want to increase your odds, is to take the money you would invest in the lottery and invest it in savings and the stock market. You will wind up with a significant windfall after a period of time as opposed to the lottery where you'll wind up spending your money where the only reward is your dreams.

Answer 5

Good luck!
The idea behind the way they are drawn is that they are completely random, so any pattern you see is probably just your imagination.
That said, chaos theory was developed so the mathematicians who did it could cheat at roulette. Now it makes them a few million dollars a second playing the stock market.
If indeed anyone had a system, they probably wouldn't tell you, and they certainly wouldn't post it up here where everyone could see it. Read up on chaos theory, maybe you'll get rich, or maybe it'll just keep you off the streets for a few hours. Either way it'll be worth it!

Answer 6

i visit do a million for you: there are 4 kings in there so first card is king is 4/fifty 2; 2d is likewise a king is 3/51 in view that one replaced into used up on the first king, then multiply them at the same time: 12/2652

Answer 7

You're the one that claims there is a pattern. I would wager that the only pattern is in your imagination.