Suppose that you start with an initial fortune of 20 dollars, and you bet one dollar each time. The probability of winning each hand is p. You quit if you reach your goal of L dollars or when you go broke. Let Q(xo) denote that probability that you eventually win. We need to characterize this probability. Next we give a more mathematical description of the problem. Now define your fortune at time n ≥ 1 by - Xn = Xn-1+ I{Y=1} = I{Yn=0} with the initial condition X = x0 ≥0. Let L = N be given, and define T inf{k : Xk = 0 or Xk = L}. Finally, let Q(x0) = P{XT = . L}. Show that X is a Markov chain and obtain its transition probability matrix. Is it irreducible? Use conditional expectations to prove that Q(x)=pQ(x+1) + (1 − p)Q(x − 1), - x = 1, L-1, (1) with Q(0) 0 and Q(L) = 1. = d) Solve the difference equation in (1) analytically. Let P(x0) P{XT = 0}. Determine P(x) directly and show that P(x) + Q(x) = 1. Hint: Use the same form of the difference equation and analytical solution as in (d) but use different initial conditions. f) Show that all intermediate states are transient and that both absorbing states are recurrent. Use (f) to show that the gambler's fortune converges almost surely to a binary random variable and characterize the limit.

A First Course in Probability (10th Edition)
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Chapter1: Combinatorial Analysis
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Suppose that you start with an initial fortune of 20 dollars, and you bet one dollar
each time. The probability of winning each hand is p. You quit if you reach your goal of L dollars
or when you go broke. Let Q(xo) denote that probability that you eventually win. We need to
characterize this probability. Next we give a more mathematical description of the problem.
Now define your fortune at time n ≥ 1 by
-
Xn = Xn-1+ I{Y=1} = I{Yn=0}
with the initial condition X = x0 ≥0. Let L = N be given, and define T inf{k : Xk = 0 or Xk =
L}. Finally, let Q(x0) = P{XT = .
L}.
Show that X is a Markov chain and obtain its transition probability matrix.
Is it irreducible?
Use conditional expectations to prove that
Q(x)=pQ(x+1) + (1 − p)Q(x − 1),
-
x = 1, L-1,
(1)
with Q(0) 0 and Q(L) = 1.
=
d) Solve the difference equation in (1) analytically.
Let P(x0) P{XT = 0}. Determine P(x) directly and show that P(x) + Q(x) = 1.
Hint: Use the same form of the difference equation and analytical solution as in (d) but use
different initial conditions.
f) Show that all intermediate states are transient and that both absorbing states are recurrent.
Use (f) to show that the gambler's fortune converges almost surely to a binary random
variable and characterize the limit.
Transcribed Image Text:Suppose that you start with an initial fortune of 20 dollars, and you bet one dollar each time. The probability of winning each hand is p. You quit if you reach your goal of L dollars or when you go broke. Let Q(xo) denote that probability that you eventually win. We need to characterize this probability. Next we give a more mathematical description of the problem. Now define your fortune at time n ≥ 1 by - Xn = Xn-1+ I{Y=1} = I{Yn=0} with the initial condition X = x0 ≥0. Let L = N be given, and define T inf{k : Xk = 0 or Xk = L}. Finally, let Q(x0) = P{XT = . L}. Show that X is a Markov chain and obtain its transition probability matrix. Is it irreducible? Use conditional expectations to prove that Q(x)=pQ(x+1) + (1 − p)Q(x − 1), - x = 1, L-1, (1) with Q(0) 0 and Q(L) = 1. = d) Solve the difference equation in (1) analytically. Let P(x0) P{XT = 0}. Determine P(x) directly and show that P(x) + Q(x) = 1. Hint: Use the same form of the difference equation and analytical solution as in (d) but use different initial conditions. f) Show that all intermediate states are transient and that both absorbing states are recurrent. Use (f) to show that the gambler's fortune converges almost surely to a binary random variable and characterize the limit.
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