Powerball

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/powerball

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the probability calculation?Jackpot odds are calculated as C(69, 5) 26 = 292,201,338 to 1
2. What is the annuity payout structure?30 graduated installments over 29 years, with a 5% annual increase
3. How many different ways can you choose the numbers?There are 11,238,513 ways to choose the five white balls and 26 ways for the Powerball, giving about 292 million possible combinations.
4. What are the odds of winning the jackpot?The odds are roughly 1 in 292,201,338, which means winning is very unlikely.

Combinations: A mathematical method for counting the number of ways to choose items from a set without regard to order.
Availability Heuristic: A mental shortcut where people overestimate the likelihood of events that are easily recalled or vivid in memory.
Responsible Gambling: Practices and policies aimed at minimizing the potential harm associated with gambling.