UW-Milwaukee mathematics professor Dr. Brendan Healy used an algebraic equation examining the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot.
“Each ticket costs you $2 and is going to net you on average less than $2, so every time you buy a ticket, you’re actually throwing away some amount of money,” said Healy.
The odds are winning are one in roughly 303 million. Healy explains the value of a ticket goes up as the jackpot goes up, but the more people that play, means your chances of splitting the jackpot goes up too.
Motley Fool, a financial services company, put together a list of what’s more likely to happen to you than winning the lottery. That includes:
1.) Being a victim of a shark attack: 1 in 11.5 million
2.) Becoming the President of the U.S.: 1 in 32.6 million
3.) Becoming an astronaut: 1 in 12.1 million
4.) Dating a supermodel: 1 in 880,000
So can you increase your chances of winning?
Healy said you can by buying more tickets and here’s another piece of advice he has for players: don’t pick lower numbers like birth dates or anniversaries.
“Those bigger numbers aren’t being played as often, so if you played the larger numbers, chances are better that if you do win, you’re not going to split the jackpot,” said Healy.
