Let's calculate the probability of winning the California Daily 3 lottery (there is no lottery in NC). In this lottery, you pick three numbers between 0 and 9. You can pick the same number multiple times, e.g. you can pick 7-7-5 or 7-7-7. You choose to play one of three ways: 

(i) "straight", which means you win if you pick the three numbers in the exact order that they are drawn, 

(ii) "box", which means you win if you pick the three numbers correctly in any order, 

(iii) "straight/box", which means you win if you pick three numbers that win either the straight or the box styles. Prizes for each style are determined from the numbers of people who play the game in that style.

For example, say you pick 7-7-5. If the drawn numbers are 7-7-5, you'd win in all three styles of play. If the drawn numbers are 7-5-7, you win the box and straight/box style, but do not win the straight style. If the numbers are 2-0-5, you win nothing.

Problem:

Say you pick 1-2-3. What is the probability of winning straight style? What is the probability of winning box style? What is the probability of winning straight/box style?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

123 can be obtained in only one way in the experiment of selecting 3 numbers from 0 to 9 Any 3 numbe... View the full answer