To win the lottery one must correctly select 5 numbers from 50 numbers. The order in which the selection is made does not matter. How many different selections are possible? what is the probability of winning?

1 Answer
May 17, 2017

Selections: #2118760#
Probability: #1/2118760#

Explanation:

You are selecting #5# objects at random from a sample space of #50#, so the number of combinations of selections is

#""_(50)C_5 = (50!)/((45!)(5!)) = 2118760# combinations.

If you're only drawing #1# of these #2118760# possible outcomes, the probability of you winning is simply

#1/2118760#