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(9,6,3,4,=3) describes the wheel with 9 chosen numbers designed for a Pick 6 lottery. The wheel guarantees at least one prize of 3 matches if 4 officially drawn numbers are within the group of 9 chosen numbers. Finally, the number of bets generated is 3, reduced from a total of 84.00 possible combinations of 9 taken 6 at a time. The coefficient of reduction is 28.00.

Wheel Summary
Abbreviated Wheel • Pick 6
9 Numbers
3 Tickets
3 if 4 Guarantee
Odds of guessing 4 Numbers
1 in 39.64
NumbersOccurrences
02
3
01  03  04  05  07
08  09
2
06
1

Select the Numbers Guessed: Total combinations: 126
Odds of guessing 4 Numbers: 1 in 39.64
Possible Matches

43210
Hits
Odds
0120024 1 in 208.10
020107 1 in 713.48
0210039 1 in 128.06
0300012 1 in 416.19
101104 1 in 1,248.58
1020011 1 in 454.03
110106 1 in 832.39
1110022 1 in 227.02
200101 1 in 4,994.34
1
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Block NumberIndexes
Block 1
  • 01
  • 02
  • 03
  • 04
  • 06
  • 09
Block 2
  • 01
  • 02
  • 05
  • 07
  • 08
  • 09
Block 3
  • 02
  • 03
  • 04
  • 05
  • 07
  • 08