[net.puzzle] guaranteeing that you match at least three numbers in Megabucks

osman@sprite.DEC (Eric, DIGITAL, Burlington Ma. 617 273-7484) (12/11/85)

Someone posed the puzzle of how many tickets you need to buy in order
to guarantee that you match at least three numbers in Megabucks.

This puzzle has slightly more motivation than merely "well you've solved
two so now solve three".

In the Megabucks game, if you match three numbers, you win a free ticket.

Hence, let's say we figure out that 234 tickets carefully chosen is the
answer to guarantee that three digits are matched.

Then we can claim

        "Buy 234 Megabucks tickets and get one free !"

Put that on your grocery store, and the government folks might be at
your door, suspecting you of fraud.  But it's not fraud.  It's just
a clever aspect of the game.

/Eric