I could run the numbers, but I've roughed them out and they're FAR from astronomical, considering the numbers aren't the same.
And knowledge of ANY BRANCH OF MATH, including combinatorics, is of no value to helping you win the lottery. (BTW, which branch of combinatorics do you think applies here? I'm curious.)
AFonzerelli, you are right. My comments about "astronomical" are off.
Even though the 6/49 odds are:
* match all 6 numbers: 14 M (million) (49! / 43! / 6!)
* match only 5 numbers: 55 k (thousand)
For any given set of 5 numbers, there are actually just 55k combinations. So the odds of getting 5 numbers are quite probable. Ever notice that the prize for 5 numbers is usually a just a few thousand dollars? wtf?
Any set of 5 numbers, because of randomness, could repeat on consecutive weeks. However, on "average", it is less "likely" to occur in our lifetime. For all 55k combinations of 5 numbers to be drawn (assuming uniqueness of 5 numbers on every draw), it would take 500+ years for this to occur (2 draws per week). This was really my point (I really thought that ALL six numbers matched!).
As for strategy, any good strategy would eliminate "low probability" of duplicated sets of numbers. Yet, somehow rely on some sort of "trend", which I have yet to analyze fully. I am not sure what "strategy" Fred is referring to.
So, in some sense, to play a set of 5 numbers that has already been drawn is probably not going to happen in our life time. Assuming "average" "randomness", it will take 250 years. For this to occur on consecutive weeks, I think one should avoid, if using a "strategy"?