OT: For spotters of unusual odometer readings...

It was this very fact that got me to think about it in the first place.

This one is an interesting one. Although 1,2,3,4,5,6 is as likely as any other combination, people tend to group unusual sets of lottery numbers into categories. This one would most likely fall into the "six consecutive numbers" category, but could fall in the "all single digits" category, or the "all numbers in order category". Now AFAICR the numbers have never come out of the machine in numerical order, which is probably because the "all numbers in order" outcome is quite unlikely (about 1/720). The "six consecutive numbers" outcome is even less likely than this even if you don't require them to be in the correct order (about 1/320,000).

If, however, you want them to be consecutive *and* in the correct order then we're talking in the region of 1/23,000,000. Now the specific outcome 1,2,3,4,5,6 has a probability of about 1/14,000,000 if they don't need to be in order, or 1/10,000,000,000 if they are to be in order.

This is why 1,2,3,4,5,6 is regarded as "more unlikely" even though it isn't more unlikely than any other combination of six numbers. It belongs to a category of result combiations which is statistically less likely than other categories of result combinations. It's all about perception.

I teach statistics, and I can confirm that you are correct.

Al

Fine and yes.

I'm looking forward to it.

Indeed. I did ceck the phone to make sure there was nothing too sensitive on it before I put it in the pic. Well read anyway!

Al

I was wondering exactly what the 'nice time' with Rich and Claire involved - swapping car-keys?

Owain

Probably.

:o)

On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:37:18 +0100, Owain mused:

I did wonder what they were doing as I'm currently at Rich and Claires and I didn't think they were going to be at Al's this weekend.

That we should meet in Rochester.

judith (or somebody else of the same name) wrote thusly in message :

I would expect some measure of changeover glitch along the lines of

Was it really as smooth as you imply?

Of course.

Spare a thought for the poor lady who reads the speaking clock from a script and who rehearsed for weeks and then sat up all night just to get it right for you.

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:57:07 GMT, a particular chimpanzee, "Al Reynolds" randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

Congratulations to Debs, btw.

Mmm..

That's why they buy Lottery tickets.....

Someone needs to get out more! :)

I have heard it said [1] it would be a 60 odd quid payout per winning ticket.

At least it wasn't quoted as "we esitimate the payout to be =A363.25"

Anything significant about 210123? Maybe he celebtrates like this every time 222 appears on the odometer.

All he needs now is to shift the peak power up to 7200rpm and then the other big white needle will point at the odometer.

Al - I cant claim the date/time connections, they are something impressive, but:

I wish I'd had a digital camera when we had such readings!

We've kept a log for decades - don't know why - and always record significant odometer readings.

As I keep saying, everyone needs a hobby ...

Mary