So...maybe I'm being nitpicky here, but I mention it b/c maybe I just don't unde... | Hacker News

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		busyant on Sept 25, 2014 \| parent \| context \| favorite \| on: Why We Keep Playing the Lottery So...maybe I'm being nitpicky here, but I mention it b/c maybe I just don't understand... They state in the article: You will have to plunk down your $2 at least 86 million times. Williams...could have simply said the odds of winning ... were 1 in 175 million It might cost you > $172MM, but aren't the odds 1 in 86 million? Or am I being obtuse?

thedufer on Sept 25, 2014 [–]

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> To get your chance of winning down to a coin toss, or 50 percent

If it takes 86 million tickets to get a 50% chance of winning, the odds per ticket must be somewhat worse than 1 in 86 million.

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