66 MtfceUanea Curiofa. 



' Thefe Speculations, as they are generally 

 pleafant, fo they may alfo be of good ufe to 

 warn us of the Miftakes we are liable to, by 

 carelefs and fuperncial Reafoning. 



I fhall add one Inftance in Aritbnetkk^vhich 

 perhaps may feem as great a Paradox as any 

 of the former. 



There are two Lotteries, at either of which 

 a Gamefter paying a Shilling for a Lot or 

 Throw •, The firft Lottery upon a juft Com- 

 putation of the Odds, has 3 to 1 of the Game- 

 fter^ the Second Lottery, but 2 to one } ne- 

 ver thelefs, the Gamefter has the very fame 

 difadvantage (and no more) in playing at the 

 Firft Lottery, as the Second. 



It looks very like a Contradiction, that the 

 Difadvantage mould be no greater in playing 

 againft 3 to 1, than 2 to 1, but it may thus be 

 refolv'd. 



o C ifl.y ^ C3?^ o O 6 pence p 



0 j J l O C3 / \ nt J V • -« J _ .... V 



•J Od 3 J 3 C4 35 C2 3£ O fl» llin S 3 



In the firft Lottery the Gamefter hazards a 

 Shilling to win a Groat, and the Chances be- 

 ing equal, it is evident there is 3 to one againft 

 him. 



In the Second Lottery, the Gamefter ven- 

 tures a Shilling againft a Shillings nd the Lots 

 being 4 to 2, his Difadvantage is 2 to 1. 



And a Lot at either of them being truly 

 worth juft 8 Pence, '(viz.. the 6th part of 3 

 times 16 Pence, or twice 2 Shillings) the Dif- 

 advantage muft be the very fame in both Ca-' 

 fes, that is, the Gamefter pays a Shilling foi\ 

 a Lot that is worth but 8 Pence. 



