Professors' Math Theory Bags Lottery Jackpot

Almost everyone believes winning the loterry is down to the luck of the draw.

But a group of university professors and tutors in Britain thought it could also be related to mathematical probability.

And their theory has spectacularly rewarded them this week when they matched all six numbers and won the $13 million lotto jackpot.

The group, made up of 17 staff members at Bradford University and College, say they bagged the big prize by using two boxes, 49 pieces of paper and a large amount of brainpower.

One of the mambers of the group, Barry Waterhouse, who works at the design and printing section of the university, explained they had been trying the National Lottery for eight years without great success after it started in 1994 with each member picking their own numbers.

"We just weren't winning with the numbers being picked that way, so we thought of a different method which would mean all 49 numbers would be used", Mr Waterhouse says. "We just thought that if all the numbers are in use, we must have a good chance of winning and it has proved so".

They then set up a computer program to check the numbers every week.

It took four years and attempts adding up to $8700, but the formula succeeded.

Matching the winning numbers and the bonus ball, they hit the jackpot.

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