Probability
Definition of Probability
Three Axioms
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0≤P(E)≤1
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P(S)=1
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For any sequence of eventes E1,E2,⋯, that are mutually exclusive
P(⋃i=1∞Ei)=∑i=1∞P(Ei))
Sequence of Events
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increasing sequence of events: {En,n≥1},En⊂En+1
limn→∞En=⋃i=1∞Ei
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decreasing sequence of events: {En,n≥1},En⊃En+1
limn→∞En=⋂i=1∞Ei
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for an increasing or decreasing sequences of events
limn→∞P(En)=P(limn→∞En)
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Borel-Cantelli Lemma
if ∑n=1∞P(En)<∞, then
P(an infinite number of the Ei occur)=P(limsupt→∞Ei)=P(⋂n=1∞⋃i=n∞Ei)=0
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Converse
Ei are independent events, ∑n−1∞P(En)=∞, then
P(an infinite number of the Ei occur)=1
Random Variable
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Random Varible X: a function that assigns a real value to each outcome in S
P(X∈A)=P(X−1(A))
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Distribution function F:
F(x)=P(X≤x)=P(X∈(−∞,x])
F(x)=P(X>x)
Expected Value
- E[X]=∫−∞∞xdF(x)={∫−∞∞xf(x)dx∑xxP(X=x)
- Var[X]=E[X2]−E2[X]
- Var[∑Xi]=∑Var(Xi)+2∑∑i<jCov(Xi,Xj)
- Cov(X,Y)=E[XY]−E[X]E[Y]
Probability Identities
Let A1,A2,⋯,An be events; Ii=[[Ai occurs]]; N=∑i=1nIi; I=[[N>0]]
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容斥原理
1−IE[I]P(1⋃nAi)=(1−1)N=i=0∑n(iN)(−1)i=E[N]=E[(2N)]+⋯+(−1)n+1E[(nN)]=i=1∑nP(Ai)−∑∑i<jP(AiAj)+⋯+(−1)n+1P(A1A2⋯An)
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exactly r of the events A1,⋯,An occur
IrP=[[N=r]]=(rN)(1−1)N−r=(rN)i=0∑N−r(iN−r)(−1)i=i=0∑n−r(r+iN)(rr+i)(−1)i=E[Ir]=i=0∑n−r(−1)i(rr+i)E[(r+iN)]=i=0∑n−r(−1)i(rr+i)∑⋯∑j1<j2<⋯jr+iP(Aj1⋯Ajr+i)
Moment Generating
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moment generating function of X
ψ(t)=E[etX]=∫etXdF(x)
E[Xn]=ψn(0),n≥1
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moment generating function of random variable X1,⋯,Xn
ψ(t∗1,⋯,tn)=E[e∑∗j=1ntjXj]
MGF determines probability distribution, but doesn't always exist
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characteristic function of X
ϕ(t)=E[eitX]
CF determines probability distribution, and always exist
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Laplace transform of distribution F (for nonnegative values):
F(s)=∫0∞e−sxdF(x)
Conditional Expectation
- E[X∣Y=y]=∫−∞∞xdF(x∣y)
- E[X]=E[E[X∣Y]]=∫E[X∣Y=y]dFY(y)
Ballot Problem
The probability A receiving n votes is always ahead in the count of B receiving m votes: n+mn−m
Exponential Distribution
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E[etX]=∫0∞etxλe−λxdx=λ−tλ
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Gamma with parameters (n,λ): S=∑X
- E[etS]=(λ−tλ)n
- f(x)=Γ(n−1)λe−λx(λx)n−1
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memeoryless: P(X>s+t∣X>t)=P(X>s)
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failure rate funtion: probability intensity that a t-year-old item will fail
λ(t)=F(t)f(t)
Inequality
- Jensen's inqeuality: E[f(X)]≥f(E[X])
Stochastic Process
- stochastic process X={X(t),t∈T}, T is an index set
- discrete-time stochastic process: T is a countable set
- sample path: realization of X
- independent increments (continuous-time): X(tn)−X(tn−1) are independent
- stationary increments: X(t+s)−X(t) has same distribution for all t