A covering design C(v,k,t,m,=b) is a pair (V,B), where V is a set of v elements (called points) and B is a collection of b k-subsets of V (called blocks), such that every m-subset of V intersects in at least one member of B in at least t points.
When applied to lottery, in form of an abbreviated wheel:
  • v: total numbers in the design; amount of numbers you choose to play the wheel
  • k: size of a block or bet
  • t: minimum guarantee
  • m: amount of numbers that must be guessed correctly in the draw
  • b: number of blocks or bets or tickets
Wheel C(7,5,3,3,=5) describes the wheel with 7 chosen numbers designed for a Pick 5 lottery. The wheel guarantees at least one prize of 3 matches if 3 officially drawn numbers are within the group of 7 chosen numbers. Finally, the number of bets generated is 5, reduced from a total of 21.00 possible combinations of 7 taken 5 at a time. The coefficient of reduction is 04.20.

Wheel Summary
Abbreviated Wheel • Pick 5
7 White Balls
5 Tickets
3 if 3 Guarantee
Odds of guessing 3 White Balls
1 in 169.80
White BallsOccurrences
01  03  04  07
4
02  05  06
3

Select the Numbers Guessed: Total combinations: 35
Odds of guessing 3 White Balls: 1 in 169.80
Possible Matches

3210
Hits
Odds
131012 1 in 495.26
140012 1 in 495.26
20301 1 in 5,943.16
22106 1 in 990.53
31104 1 in 1,485.79
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Block NumberIndexes
Block 1
  • 01
  • 02
  • 03
  • 04
  • 07
Block 2
  • 01
  • 02
  • 05
  • 06
  • 07
Block 3
  • 01
  • 03
  • 04
  • 05
  • 07
Block 4
  • 01
  • 03
  • 04
  • 06
  • 07
Block 5
  • 02
  • 03
  • 04
  • 05
  • 06