Recreational MathMathematical Games |
What are betting odds and how are they determined? |
Betting odds are usually written in the form r:s, in which r is the “chances for” and s is the “chances against.” This can be stated as: “r to s” or “chances for to chances against”; or “s to r” or “chances against to chances for.” But note that odds of 1:1 are said as “one to one” not “one out of one.” Odds are usually calculated as follows:
Using a 52-card deck as an example, the odds of drawing a king from the deck are 1 in 12—or 4:(52 - 4) = 4:48, which equals 1:12.