Can last week's numbers repeat?

Question

Last week's lottery draw was 3, 14, 22, 29, 31, 40. A friend argues that those exact numbers are now "used up" and less likely to come out this week than a fresh-looking set such as 5, 12, 27, 33, 38, 44. Is he right that last week's numbers are less likely to be drawn this week?

Accepted Answer

No. Each weekly draw is independent, and the balls have no memory of previous weeks. Every specific combination of six numbers is equally likely on any given draw. Repeating last week's set, 3, 14, 22, 29, 31, 40, has exactly the same probability as the "random-looking" set 5, 12, 27, 33, 38, 44, or any other specific combination. The confusion mixes up two things. It is true that seeing the very same six numbers repeat in consecutive weeks feels astonishing, but that is only because we lump all "a repeat happened" outcomes together in our minds. As a single specific target, last week's numbe…

Can last week's numbers repeat?

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