Probability of reaching a maximum in a random walk
$begingroup$
Let's define a random walk in the following way
$$S_0 = 0, S_n = sum_{i=1}^{n} epsilon_i,$$
where:
$$epsilon_i = pm 1.$$
Moreover
$$P(epsilon_i = - 1) = P(epsilon_i = + 1) = frac{1}{2}.$$
Again, let's define a random variable $X_n$ which gives us the position of the first maximum of a random walk of length $2n$.
I am to show that
$$P(X_n = 2k) = P(X_n = 2k + 1) = frac{1}{2}u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}.$$
Here
$$u_{2n} = frac{binom{2n}{n}}{2^{2n}} = P(S_{2n} = 0) = P(S_1 ge 0, S_2 ge0, ldots, S_{2n} ge 0) = P(S_1 neq0, S_2 neq 0, ldots, S_{2n} neq 0).$$
I also know that
$$u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}$$
tells us about the probability that a randomly walking particle is $2k$ ,,moves'' above the $x$ axis and $2n-2k$ below. However I don't know how to combine all those things and give the proof. I would appreciate any hints or tips.
probability-theory stochastic-processes random-walk
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let's define a random walk in the following way
$$S_0 = 0, S_n = sum_{i=1}^{n} epsilon_i,$$
where:
$$epsilon_i = pm 1.$$
Moreover
$$P(epsilon_i = - 1) = P(epsilon_i = + 1) = frac{1}{2}.$$
Again, let's define a random variable $X_n$ which gives us the position of the first maximum of a random walk of length $2n$.
I am to show that
$$P(X_n = 2k) = P(X_n = 2k + 1) = frac{1}{2}u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}.$$
Here
$$u_{2n} = frac{binom{2n}{n}}{2^{2n}} = P(S_{2n} = 0) = P(S_1 ge 0, S_2 ge0, ldots, S_{2n} ge 0) = P(S_1 neq0, S_2 neq 0, ldots, S_{2n} neq 0).$$
I also know that
$$u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}$$
tells us about the probability that a randomly walking particle is $2k$ ,,moves'' above the $x$ axis and $2n-2k$ below. However I don't know how to combine all those things and give the proof. I would appreciate any hints or tips.
probability-theory stochastic-processes random-walk
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Let's define a random walk in the following way
$$S_0 = 0, S_n = sum_{i=1}^{n} epsilon_i,$$
where:
$$epsilon_i = pm 1.$$
Moreover
$$P(epsilon_i = - 1) = P(epsilon_i = + 1) = frac{1}{2}.$$
Again, let's define a random variable $X_n$ which gives us the position of the first maximum of a random walk of length $2n$.
I am to show that
$$P(X_n = 2k) = P(X_n = 2k + 1) = frac{1}{2}u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}.$$
Here
$$u_{2n} = frac{binom{2n}{n}}{2^{2n}} = P(S_{2n} = 0) = P(S_1 ge 0, S_2 ge0, ldots, S_{2n} ge 0) = P(S_1 neq0, S_2 neq 0, ldots, S_{2n} neq 0).$$
I also know that
$$u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}$$
tells us about the probability that a randomly walking particle is $2k$ ,,moves'' above the $x$ axis and $2n-2k$ below. However I don't know how to combine all those things and give the proof. I would appreciate any hints or tips.
probability-theory stochastic-processes random-walk
$endgroup$
Let's define a random walk in the following way
$$S_0 = 0, S_n = sum_{i=1}^{n} epsilon_i,$$
where:
$$epsilon_i = pm 1.$$
Moreover
$$P(epsilon_i = - 1) = P(epsilon_i = + 1) = frac{1}{2}.$$
Again, let's define a random variable $X_n$ which gives us the position of the first maximum of a random walk of length $2n$.
I am to show that
$$P(X_n = 2k) = P(X_n = 2k + 1) = frac{1}{2}u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}.$$
Here
$$u_{2n} = frac{binom{2n}{n}}{2^{2n}} = P(S_{2n} = 0) = P(S_1 ge 0, S_2 ge0, ldots, S_{2n} ge 0) = P(S_1 neq0, S_2 neq 0, ldots, S_{2n} neq 0).$$
I also know that
$$u_{2k}u_{2n-2k}$$
tells us about the probability that a randomly walking particle is $2k$ ,,moves'' above the $x$ axis and $2n-2k$ below. However I don't know how to combine all those things and give the proof. I would appreciate any hints or tips.
probability-theory stochastic-processes random-walk
probability-theory stochastic-processes random-walk
edited Jan 8 at 18:47
saz
79.7k860124
79.7k860124
asked Jan 6 at 11:52
HendrraHendrra
1,163516
1,163516
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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$begingroup$
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k)$: For fixed $k in mathbb{N}$ define two auxiliary random walks by
$$U_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k-i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2k,$$
and
$$V_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k+i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2n-2k.$$
- Check that $(U_j)_{j leq 2k}$ and $(V_j)_{j leq 2n-2k}$ are independent.
- Show that $${X_n = 2k} = {U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0} cap {V_1leq 0,ldots,V_{2n-2k}leq 0}.$$
- Combining Step 1+2 gives $$mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k) = mathbb{P}(U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0) mathbb{P}(V_1 leq 0,ldots, V_{2n-2k} leq 0).$$ Use the facts which you mentioned about $u_{2n}$ to prove that the right-hand side equals $frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-2k}$.
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k+1)$: Set $$T_j := sum_{i=2}^{j+1} epsilon_i$$ and denote by $Y_n$ the position of the first maximum of $(T_j)_{j leq 2n}$.
- Show that ${X_n =2k+1} = {Y_n = 2k}$.
- Deduce from the first part of this problem that $$mathbb{P}(Y_n=2k) = frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-k}.$$
- Conclude.
$endgroup$
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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votes
$begingroup$
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k)$: For fixed $k in mathbb{N}$ define two auxiliary random walks by
$$U_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k-i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2k,$$
and
$$V_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k+i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2n-2k.$$
- Check that $(U_j)_{j leq 2k}$ and $(V_j)_{j leq 2n-2k}$ are independent.
- Show that $${X_n = 2k} = {U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0} cap {V_1leq 0,ldots,V_{2n-2k}leq 0}.$$
- Combining Step 1+2 gives $$mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k) = mathbb{P}(U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0) mathbb{P}(V_1 leq 0,ldots, V_{2n-2k} leq 0).$$ Use the facts which you mentioned about $u_{2n}$ to prove that the right-hand side equals $frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-2k}$.
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k+1)$: Set $$T_j := sum_{i=2}^{j+1} epsilon_i$$ and denote by $Y_n$ the position of the first maximum of $(T_j)_{j leq 2n}$.
- Show that ${X_n =2k+1} = {Y_n = 2k}$.
- Deduce from the first part of this problem that $$mathbb{P}(Y_n=2k) = frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-k}.$$
- Conclude.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k)$: For fixed $k in mathbb{N}$ define two auxiliary random walks by
$$U_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k-i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2k,$$
and
$$V_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k+i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2n-2k.$$
- Check that $(U_j)_{j leq 2k}$ and $(V_j)_{j leq 2n-2k}$ are independent.
- Show that $${X_n = 2k} = {U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0} cap {V_1leq 0,ldots,V_{2n-2k}leq 0}.$$
- Combining Step 1+2 gives $$mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k) = mathbb{P}(U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0) mathbb{P}(V_1 leq 0,ldots, V_{2n-2k} leq 0).$$ Use the facts which you mentioned about $u_{2n}$ to prove that the right-hand side equals $frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-2k}$.
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k+1)$: Set $$T_j := sum_{i=2}^{j+1} epsilon_i$$ and denote by $Y_n$ the position of the first maximum of $(T_j)_{j leq 2n}$.
- Show that ${X_n =2k+1} = {Y_n = 2k}$.
- Deduce from the first part of this problem that $$mathbb{P}(Y_n=2k) = frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-k}.$$
- Conclude.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k)$: For fixed $k in mathbb{N}$ define two auxiliary random walks by
$$U_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k-i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2k,$$
and
$$V_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k+i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2n-2k.$$
- Check that $(U_j)_{j leq 2k}$ and $(V_j)_{j leq 2n-2k}$ are independent.
- Show that $${X_n = 2k} = {U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0} cap {V_1leq 0,ldots,V_{2n-2k}leq 0}.$$
- Combining Step 1+2 gives $$mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k) = mathbb{P}(U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0) mathbb{P}(V_1 leq 0,ldots, V_{2n-2k} leq 0).$$ Use the facts which you mentioned about $u_{2n}$ to prove that the right-hand side equals $frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-2k}$.
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k+1)$: Set $$T_j := sum_{i=2}^{j+1} epsilon_i$$ and denote by $Y_n$ the position of the first maximum of $(T_j)_{j leq 2n}$.
- Show that ${X_n =2k+1} = {Y_n = 2k}$.
- Deduce from the first part of this problem that $$mathbb{P}(Y_n=2k) = frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-k}.$$
- Conclude.
$endgroup$
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k)$: For fixed $k in mathbb{N}$ define two auxiliary random walks by
$$U_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k-i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2k,$$
and
$$V_j := sum_{i=1}^j epsilon_{2k+i}, qquad 0 leq j leq 2n-2k.$$
- Check that $(U_j)_{j leq 2k}$ and $(V_j)_{j leq 2n-2k}$ are independent.
- Show that $${X_n = 2k} = {U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0} cap {V_1leq 0,ldots,V_{2n-2k}leq 0}.$$
- Combining Step 1+2 gives $$mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k) = mathbb{P}(U_1 > 0,ldots,U_{2k}>0) mathbb{P}(V_1 leq 0,ldots, V_{2n-2k} leq 0).$$ Use the facts which you mentioned about $u_{2n}$ to prove that the right-hand side equals $frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-2k}$.
Hints for $mathbb{P}(X_n = 2k+1)$: Set $$T_j := sum_{i=2}^{j+1} epsilon_i$$ and denote by $Y_n$ the position of the first maximum of $(T_j)_{j leq 2n}$.
- Show that ${X_n =2k+1} = {Y_n = 2k}$.
- Deduce from the first part of this problem that $$mathbb{P}(Y_n=2k) = frac{1}{2} u_{2k} u_{2n-k}.$$
- Conclude.
edited Jan 7 at 10:50
answered Jan 6 at 18:33
sazsaz
79.7k860124
79.7k860124
add a comment |
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