To make it simple lets use 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 for our number pool. It does not matter which numbers
you wheel as the overall results will be the same.
Next lets assume for this example that the pool of 8 has all 6 winning numbers for the drawing. When
there are fewer than 6 correct in the pool then it takes another method to get the coverage for other
possible wins.
Lets start with using the first 6 numbers in the pool. 1-2-3-4-5-6. Since there are only 8 numbers
in the pool and all 6 winning numbers are in the pool of 8 we can assume this line has at least 4
numbers correct. We could have 6 correct but we want to make sure we cover every 5 of 6 combo.
The first line covers six, five number combinations. There are 56 possible combos of 5 in a 8 number
pool so 56/6=9.3. This value will always be lower than the actual number of lines needed but I use
it to get a low-ball figure.
Back to the wheel. since for this example we assume all 6 numbers are in the pool of 8 then we know
that at least 4 correct numbers in the line 123456. There could be 4, 5 or 6 correct in this line but again
lets say we have 4 of 6.
123456 <- starting set. At least a 4 of 6 provided all 6 are in the pool of 8. To ensure we cover every
possible 5of6 all we need to do is something like this. Replace 1 number from each line with 1 of the
unused numbers from the first set. We have numbers 7 and 8 that are not in play.
123457
123476
123756
127456
173456
723456
Now do the same thing replacing each number with 8.
123458
123486
123856
128456
183456
823456
This will ensure that at least one line will have at least 5 correct numbers. We end with 13 total lines
counting th starting set. If our first line has 5 of the 6 numbers correct then we will hit a 6of6 else the
best would be 5of6.
Covering every 5of6 in 4 lines wheeling 8 numbers is not possible. Covering 4 of 6 can be covered in
one line and a 6 of 6 would take 28 lines provided all 6 winning numbers are in the pool of 8.
RL