252%

on October 4, 2015 the format of how to play Powerball changed. There used to be 59 white balls to choose from and 35 red balls to choose from. This is how to play today: 5 white balls are drawn out of a drum with 69 balls numbered 1 to 69, and one red ball is chosen out of a drum with 26 red balls numbered 1 to 26.

1. Why do you think this change occurred?

2.What do you think happened to the total number of possible combinations for playing the winning numbers? Did it increase or decrease?