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The Lucky Number

'How do I win the lottery?' asks listener Vince Scott. Drs Rutherford and Fry investigate games of probability and chance.

"My boss insists that if you choose the same numbers in the lottery each time your probability of winning will increase. Is this true?" asks Vince Scott from Edinburgh.

National lotteries are played in more than 80 countries worldwide, but can you increase your chances of winning? Hannah consults statistician Jen Rogers to discover the best way to select your lucky numbers.

Adam talks chance and luck with David Spiegelhalter and hears how the field of probability began with a philandering gambling polymath in 16th century Italy. Plus, we meet the Oxford professor who tried to beat the house in a Las Vegas casino, using a computer concealed inside his shoe.

Presenters: Adam Rutherford, Hannah Fry
Producer: Michelle Martin.

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25 minutes

Last on

Thu 31 May 2018 12:04

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  • Thu 31 May 2018 12:04

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