I have five tokens with which I may enter into a daily competition.
As the question indicates, I may enter all five into a single draw on one day, or enter each individually into separate draws taking place every day for five days.
The temptation is to conclude that the odds are equal, but probability is rarely so obvious. =P
2007-10-29 05:09:19 · 7 answers · asked by subtext 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
@Difficult to address guy (top contributor) =P : The daily draws are promoted by a well known national food manufacturer, and there are tens of thousands of entries per day. The number of entrants per day now the competition is in full swing doesn't vary much (according to the promoter). A computer picks the winner.
@kree : I like the theory. Even though if you put four blue balls in a bag containing twenty differently coloured balls, you're more likely to pull out a non-blue one, the odds of pulling out a blue one are, I imagine, increased.
How does that compare to putting one blue ball in the bag and repeating the process over five days. Is a five in twenty chance on one day better than a one in sixteen chance over five days? (O_o)
2007-10-29 06:05:12 · update #1
Impossible to tell.
What kind of draws are these?
What are the number of entries in each draw?
For example
You enter draw A five times. There are 260,000 entries. The odds of you winning are 52,000 to 1 (260,000/5)
You enter draws B,C,D,E,and F one time each
Draw B has 17 entries
Draw C has 93 entries
Draw D has 580 entries
Draw E has 11,000 entries
Draw F has 2.5 million entries.
As you can see, your odds of winning depend on the total number of entries, not on how many draws there are.
I can provde data that shows that your odds are in favour of the 5 entries in one draw, I can provide data that shows your odds would be equal, and I canm show you data that shows that the 1 entry in 5 separate draws would be better.
Based on your question, it is impossible to provide a definite answer!
2007-10-29 05:15:45 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends on how many other people enter the draw on each particular day. If it's the same number on each day, then the chances of a win are equal however you do it.
2007-10-29 12:18:20 · answer #2 · answered by mustardcharlie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends how many people enter on all the other days
eg if you enter your five tokens on the same day and only one other person enters, obviously your chances of winning are huge but if you enter all five and another 500 hundred enter then the chances decrease. Same with the one token idea.
2007-10-29 12:12:49 · answer #3 · answered by whats my name again 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Surely it depends on how many entries are in each draw, as there may be a different number.
2007-10-29 12:13:01 · answer #4 · answered by Millie E 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
say there are 100tokens per draw
5 in 100-1/20
1in 100-1/100
you have better odds on winning with all 5in 1 draw.
2007-10-29 12:14:00 · answer #5 · answered by HaSiCiT Bust A Tie A1 TieBusters 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
uv got more chance of winning by enetering all 5 into one because ... well its difficult to explain...the way we got taught was if theres 5 blue balls in a bag and loadsa other coulours...ur more likely to pull out a blue one? that make sense?
2007-10-29 12:13:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hell yeah they are
2007-10-29 12:12:19 · answer #7 · answered by navymasteratarms 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋