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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

More or Less: Golden Ticket

Factual

A view of Wonka Bars at the 40th Anniversary of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

11/07/2014

Golden Ticket

BBC World Service - More or Less, Golden Ticket

What are Charlie's odds of finding a golden ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket to visit Willy Wonka’s factory. What were his odds? Plus: World Cup football and players' ages.

In the film and musical based on Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket receives a golden ticket to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. But one of our younger More or Less listeners in England wanted to find out what the chances would be of winning one of those Golden Tickets. So we sent maths book author Rob Eastaway to her school in Derby to explain the answer to her class-mates. A must-listen for anyone who struggles to get their head around probability. 

Also on the programme we look at whether the age of players makes a difference in World Cup football. 

(Photo: A Wonka bar. Credit: Getty Images)

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