h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I saw a car with the numberplate R525TBR today. What were the chances of that happening?

Coincidences are only there if you look for them. The firt time they drew a Wednesday lottery, my Nan's regular Sautrday numbers came out.

B

One in six-hundred and seventy five, if my maths are correct.


Sorry I was just wandering...

I doubt EV would be any more enlightened for having been told that.

B

It is the odds in the specific case of getting one right, one or less away three times and two or less away twice.

It's by no means the general case, which would have to factor in edge conditions: 1,2 and 48,49. Plus overlapping events such as dealing with 'one/two away' events in sequential numbers such as 10,11,12. And no, I've got no intention of sitting down and working this general case out.

What are the odds of letting the lotto machine pick your numbers and then having another machine pick the same numbers.

I've just read that I have 10 Quadrillion (I don't know if it should have a capital Q but it sounds important enough to have one) cells in my body. If they would each just chip in a penny I'd have a significant amount of cash. Where can I get change for a £10 billion note?