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Theory and applications of probability and stochastic processes: e.g. central limit theorems, large deviations, stochastic differential equations, models from statistical mechanics, queuing theory.
5
votes
Accepted
Minimum probability that two Gaussian random variables are small
The minimum value is simply $2\alpha-1 = 0.365379$ where $\alpha = \Phi(1)-\Phi(-1) = P(|X|<1)$ where $X \sim N(0,1)$. This can be achieved by translating the percentile of $X$ (considering the percen …
4
votes
Does the optimal strategy converge in poker if the SPR tends to infinity?
The Clairvoyant Game
Here is a well-known toy problem (the Clairvoyant Game) that doesn't converge: Suppose your hand is face-up. You have no hidden information. You don't know whether your opponent' …
3
votes
Accepted
Should you bet in poker against Darth Vader?
Here is an answer to the updated question:
Suppose that there are two betting rounds. Darth Vader has three types of hands. Type 1 wins with probability 1. Type 2 is a draw that hits (becomes a winni …
6
votes
Should you bet in poker against Darth Vader?
Getting all-in while behind
It is not just when you are ahead that you might want to get all-in against someone who has an information advantage. Suppose the pot is $1$ and the effective stack depth …
3
votes
Accepted
Vanishing zeroes in matrix powers
This is a combination of the answer Gerry Myerson gave on MSE, the paper linked there, and the comments here.
The largest possible minimum $m$ is $(n-1)^2+1 = n^2-2n+2$. This was proved by Wielandt, …
1
vote
Collecting stones in n buckets
See A balls-and-colours problem and Another colored balls puzzle although those don't talk about the two-dimensional distribution. These suggest looking at the count of pairs of pebbles in different b …
2
votes
A generalization of negative binomial distribution
This is related to the coupon-collector problem. These random variables have been studied by many people, although I don't recall a particular name for them. See, for example, Anna Pósfai's thesis (ab …
3
votes
Accepted
Why does the overhand shuffle converge to the uniform distribution on $S_n$?
Shuffles like the overhand shuffle or riffle shuffle are not just random walks, they are symmetric random walks because you apply a random permutation drawn from the same distribution no matter what t …
3
votes
Shortest path through $n^{1/3}$ points out of $n$
The lower bound argument I gave for $\sqrt{n}$ points in a square works here, too. I have tried to simplify it. The idea is to use the union bound: The probability that a random path with $m=\lfloor \ …
2
votes
Accepted
Subquadratic multiplication of probability mass functions (with log-convolution?)
There is little room for improvement over brute force because the average number of collisions is a very slowly growing function.
The Erdős multiplication table problem asks how many numbers are pro …
2
votes
Is the limsup or liminf of n-wise independent events independent?
Here is a counterexample. Since this question is more restrictive than the sequel, it is a counterexample to that, too.
Let $\{1,2,3,4\}$ have equal probability.
Let $1 \in A_{1,n},A_{2,n}$.
Let $2 …
1
vote
Do we have independence if we let the indices of the events increase?
Here is a counterexample. Let the $0-1$ random variables $X_n$ follow a Pólya urn model: Choose $U$ uniformly on $[0,1]$ and then let the $X_i$ be independent Bernoulli trials with success rate $U$. $ …
3
votes
Batched Coupon Collector Problem
Although this has been studied before, I find it interesting to apply basic techniques. Here are two.
First, let $p_i$ be the probability that the first $i$ batches don't cover everything, and let $I …
5
votes
Accepted
Does walk on $Z^d$ with steps $(\pm 1,\pm1,\ldots,\pm 1)$ return to origin?
These random walks are recurrent when $d\le 2$ and transient when $d \ge 3$. That behavior happens for a wide variety of random walks.
The expected number of returns to the origin is $$\sum_{n=1}^\in …
3
votes
Accepted
divisibility of uniform distribution
Here is a direct argument.
Suppose independent $X_1,X_2 \sim X$, and $X_1+X_2$ is uniform on $[0,1]$.
$X$ is supported on $[0,1/2]$.
For any $0 \lt \alpha \lt 1/4$,
$\alpha = P\left(X_1+X_2 \in [ …