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Question 1. (Total Marks: 10)
(a) What do you mean by a Martingale. Discuss one example of martingale.
(5 Marks)
(b) A particle performs a random walk with absorbing barriers, say 0 and 4. Whenever it is at
position r (O<r<4), it moves to r+1 with probability p or to r-1 with probability gq, p+q=1. But
as soon as it reaches 0 or 4, it remains there. The movement of the particle forms a Markov
chain. Write the transition probability matrix of this Markov chain.
(5 marks)
Question 2. (Total marks: 10)
Classify the stochastic processes according to parameter space and state-space. Give at least
two examples of each type.
(10 marks)
Question 3. (Total marks: 10)
(a) What is the period of a Markov chain? Differentiate between periodic and aperiodic
Markov chains.
(5 marks)
(b) What is the nature of state 1 of the Markov chain whose transition probability matrix is
given below:
(5 marks)
0
1
2
0
01O
I
1/2 0 1/2
2 010
Question 4. (Total marks: 20)
(a) What is a Poisson process?
(5 marks)
(b) Let N(t) be a Poisson process with rate A > 0. Prove that the probability of n occurrences by
time t is given by
P(t)
=
(atyteAt
!
<#
=
12,3;
«as
(15 marks)
Question 5. (Total marks: 20)
(a) Show that the transition probability matrix along with the initial distribution completely
specifies the probability distribution of a discrete-time Markov chain.
(10 marks)
(b) Suppose that the probability of a dry day (state 0) following a rainy day (state 1) is 1/3 and
that probability of a rainy day following a dry day is 1/2. Develop a two-state transition
probability matrix of the Markov chain. Given that May 1, 2022 is a dry day, find the
probability that May 3, 2022 is a dry day.
(10 marks)