When mathematics meets luck: David Cushing e David stewart, two mathematics experts from the University of Manchester, have found a formula for winning the lottery. With just 27 tickets, selected through an astute application of finite geometry, they demonstrated the possibility of always guaranteeing a win in the UK National Lottery, defying the conventional odds of over 45 million possible combinations.
Finite geometry and the lottery: an unexpected combination
Mathematicians used finite geometry to develop their foolproof method. By placing lottery numbers in specific geometric patterns, they managed to create a set of 27 tickets that always guarantee victory. This approach demonstrates the applicability of mathematics in practical contexts, challenging the traditional idea that the lottery is a game based solely on luck.
Research (that I link to you here) has captured global attention, with many attempting to replicate the method. However, as the researchers point out, a certain victory does not at all mean that it translates into a profit. The method, to be precise, does not ensure that the prize exceeds the initial investment of the tickets. How do you say? Are you still curious to read the game series? Please. Take a seat.
A stroke of luck in the research group
In at least one case, the researchers admit, a member of the research team made a “significant”, although entirely reasonable, profit (1756 pounds, around 2000 euros). This episode highlighted the potential validity of the method in real contexts, but it remains an experimental and unconventional approach. Indeed, mathematicians reiterate that
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding this discovery, the mathematicians reiterate: their method does not transform the game into a safe financial investment. The probability of winning the jackpot remains extremely low, regardless of the method used. The scientific value, upon closer inspection, is much higher: it is the confirmation that mathematics and finite geometry can be applied to understand (and potentially manipulate) systems that appear to be governed by chance. Already. They seem.
