Paragraph

For the expected earnings, first determine a value function corresponding to each outcome and apply the discrete expected value process. This gives
\begin{align*} & \$32600000 \cdot \frac{1}{258,890,850} + \$1000000 \cdot \frac{1}{18,492,204} \\ & + \$5000 \cdot \frac{1}{739,688} + \$500 \cdot \frac{1}{52,835}\\ & + \$50 \cdot \frac{1}{10,720} + \$5 \cdot \frac{1}{766} \\ & + \$5 \cdot \frac{1}{473} + \$2 \cdot \frac{1}{56} + \$1 \cdot \frac{1}{21}\\ & \approx \$0.3013. \end{align*}
So, the expected payout is approximately 30 cents. Subtracting the cost of playing ($1) indicates that the average winnings per play of the Louisiana Lottery would be -70 cents. So, you would be better off to take, say, 50 cents and just give it to the local school system every time you consider playing this game rather than actually playing.
in-context