Problem 56

Question

To win in the New York State lottery, one must correctly select 6 numbers from 59 numbers. The order in which the selection is made does not matter. How many different selections are possible?

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer
The total number of different selections possible is the value obtained in Step 4.
1Step 1: Understanding Combinations
Combinations can be calculated using the formula for combinations which is \( C(n, k) = \frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!} \), where n is the total number of items, k is the number of items to choose, and '!' indicates factorial.
2Step 2: Applying the combinations formula
Given that there are 59 numbers (n=59) and we need to select 6 numbers (k=6), we can simply substitute these values into the combinations formula. So, the calculation would be \( C(59, 6) = \frac{59!}{6!(59-6)!} \).
3Step 3: Calculating Factorials
The factorial function can be computed as the product of all positive integers up to the designated number. \( 59! = 59*58*57*...*1 \), \( 6! = 6*5*4*3*2*1 \), and \( (59-6)! = 53*52*51*...*1 \). These values can be computed with a calculator.
4Step 4: Performing the Division
After calculating the factorials, divide the numerator by the denominator to get the total number of combinations.