Can 433 people win a lottery jackpot?

433 people win a lottery jackpot – impossible? Probability and psychology suggest it’s more likely than you’d think, writes Stephen Woodcock.

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More than a few eyebrows were raised at the weekend when it was reported a staggering 433 people won the jackpot of a government-backed lottery in the Philippines – sharing in 236 million pesos (about A$6.2 million).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this has led to calls for an enquiry into how this seemingly “near-impossible” outcome could have arisen.

However, a basic understanding of probability and human psychology helps explain why this outcome isn’t as implausible as you might think.

Continue reading on UTS Newsroom: Can 433 people win a lottery jackpot?

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