You can use hexadecimal numbers to determine the odds of winning the lottery. Hexadecimal numbers contain digits from 0 to 15 in an order from left to right. They are commonly used in programming and other areas where binary codes are important. Since 16 is a power of two, it is easy to imagine that hexadecimal numbers are equally distributed. Moreover, lottery numbers beginning with 0 or a are grouped into the first quartile. Meanwhile, lottery numbers with c-f are the last quartile.

This system is based on an algorithm, which DOE has not disclosed to families. It uses an automated decision-making process to choose the admission numbers. DOE officials maintain that lottery numbers do not give relative odds of admission to schools, but rather depend on the choices of other applicants. However, a parent group has launched a campaign to get lottery numbers for their child. The group used the Freedom of Information Law to request lottery numbers. By doing so, they can access information about the decision-making process behind public school admissions.

As with lottery numbers, the seniority of a student is an important consideration. A senior with a lottery number of 30/3000 has an edge over a freshman with a lottery number of 20/1. This means that a student who is a senior will have better odds of receiving a room than a freshman. Further, a senior with a lottery number of 30/3000 is still better than a sophomore with a lottery number of 20/1.