(2) Here's a problem that pops up in actuarial science fairly often: it's called gambler's ruin. In each round of the game, you toss a fair coin. If it lands "Heads", you win $1; but if it lands "Tails", you lose $1. If you don't have any money left after that, you must stop playing. Suppose you start with $100. What is the probability you will get to $500 without first getting ruined (i.e. running out of money)? Let W be the event that you win, i.e. you reach 500 dollars without running out of money first. Let's break this up into steps: (a) (c) et P(Wn) be the conditional probability that you win if you start with n dollars. Use the Law of Total Probability (splitting up this probability into two cases: either you win the first flip, or you lose the first flip), and the fact that all flips are independent to prove the following difference equation for P(Wn): P(W/n) = P(Wn+1)+P(W\n-1). arranging the difference equation, we get P(Wn+1) P(W|n) = P(W\n) - P(W|n - 1). Using this fact, give the formula for P(W\n) in terms of n, and write a proof. To answer our original question, what is P(W|100)? 1

A First Course in Probability (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134753119
Author:Sheldon Ross
Publisher:Sheldon Ross
Chapter1: Combinatorial Analysis
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P: a. How many different 7-place license plates are possible if the first 2 places are for letters and...
icon
Related questions
Question
(2) Here's a problem that pops up in actuarial science fairly often: it's called gambler's ruin.
In each round of the game, you toss a fair coin. If it lands "Heads", you win $1; but if
it lands "Tails", you lose $1. If you don't have any money left after that, you must stop
playing. Suppose you start with $100. What is the probability you will get to $500 without
first getting ruined (i.e. running out of money)?
Let W be the event that you win, i.e. you reach 500 dollars without running out of money
first. Let's break this up into steps:
(a)
(c)
et P(Wn) be the conditional probability that you win if you start with n
dollars. Use the Law of Total Probability (splitting up this probability into two cases:
either you win the first flip, or you lose the first flip), and the fact that all flips are
independent to prove the following difference equation for P(Wn):
P(W/n) = P(Wn+1)+P(W\n-1).
arranging the difference equation, we get
P(Wn+1) P(W|n) = P(W\n) - P(W|n - 1).
Using this fact, give the formula for P(W\n) in terms of n, and write a proof.
To answer our original question, what is P(W|100)?
1
Transcribed Image Text:(2) Here's a problem that pops up in actuarial science fairly often: it's called gambler's ruin. In each round of the game, you toss a fair coin. If it lands "Heads", you win $1; but if it lands "Tails", you lose $1. If you don't have any money left after that, you must stop playing. Suppose you start with $100. What is the probability you will get to $500 without first getting ruined (i.e. running out of money)? Let W be the event that you win, i.e. you reach 500 dollars without running out of money first. Let's break this up into steps: (a) (c) et P(Wn) be the conditional probability that you win if you start with n dollars. Use the Law of Total Probability (splitting up this probability into two cases: either you win the first flip, or you lose the first flip), and the fact that all flips are independent to prove the following difference equation for P(Wn): P(W/n) = P(Wn+1)+P(W\n-1). arranging the difference equation, we get P(Wn+1) P(W|n) = P(W\n) - P(W|n - 1). Using this fact, give the formula for P(W\n) in terms of n, and write a proof. To answer our original question, what is P(W|100)? 1
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 3 images

Blurred answer
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
A First Course in Probability (10th Edition)
A First Course in Probability (10th Edition)
Probability
ISBN:
9780134753119
Author:
Sheldon Ross
Publisher:
PEARSON
A First Course in Probability
A First Course in Probability
Probability
ISBN:
9780321794772
Author:
Sheldon Ross
Publisher:
PEARSON