Written on September 12, 2002.
The page "Primer: Probability, Odds, Formulae, Algorithm, Software Calculator" presents the mathematics and logic of calculating the odds for various games of chance.
The page • Software and formulae to calculate lotto odds using the hypergeometric distribution probability gives more details on calculating the lotto odds for various prizes.
I wrote software to calculate the odds or probabilities for many situations. The free programs in point are presented briefly on this page.
• OddsCalc.EXE calculates the odds of any lotto game, including Powerball, Mega Millions, Euromillions, and keno. If the game draws 6 winning numbers, the program calculates the odds from '0 of 6' to '6 of 6'. Of course, '6 of 6' represents the jackpot case.
• ODDS.EXE calculates the lotto odds using the 'hypergeometric distribution probability'. The odds are calculated as 'k of m in n from N'. More clearly, let's suppose a lotto 6/49 game. The lottery draws 6 winning numbers. The player must play exactly 6 numbers per ticket. But the player can choose to play a pool of 10 favorite numbers. What is the probability to get '4 of 6 in 10 from 49'? The odds: '1 in 90'.
• FORMULA.EXE. This program does the calculations for the Fundamental Formula of Gambling as presented at Gambling Formula. The program is useful to use with the strategies presented at Winning Lotto Lottery Strategy Wheeling and Winning Roulette Systems.
That is, calculate the number of trials N for an event of probability p to appear with the degree of certainty DC.
The program can reverse the above and calculate the degree of certainty DC for an event of probability p to appear within a range of N trials.
It also handles the "Binomial Distribution Formula". This formula calculates the probability of exactly M successes in N trials, when the probability p is constant.
The program displays the factorials (!) of the parameters used by the binomial distribution: M!, N!
Also, the program calculates the standard deviation applied to binomial events: SQR((N*p*(1-p)).
“A most useful scientific tool!”; “Unmatched theory of probability software, bar none!”, many users exclaim.
My freeware only works on Intel/Microsoft Windows platforms. Unluckily, the users of Apple computers cannot use my software. The only thing they can use is my lottery and gambling ActiveX controls. The online number generator can generate combinations for a wide variety of games of chance. It can also calculate the odds or probability of such games of chance. The online control performs also some of the calculations of FORMULA.EXE. There is another restriction, however. The 'IonSaliuCalc' online ActiveX control only runs in Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4 or later! It shouldn't be a big deal, though. Microsoft Internet Explorer is easily available as a freebie. Also, you might need to add http://saliu.com to your Trusted sites (via Tools, Internet Options, Security tab). The odds calculator is guaranteed to be safe. It has been run billions of times by millions of lottery players, gamblers and math geeks around the world without any problem whatsoever.
• IonSaliuCalculator, version 6.1, February 2004 — The Best Odds, Probability Calculator.
Resources in Theory of Probability, Mathematics, Statistics, Combinatorics, Software.
See a comprehensive directory of the pages and materials on the subject of theory of probability, mathematics, statistics, combinatorics, plus software.
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