(New page: Category:ECE600 Category:Lecture notes Back to all ECE 600 notes <center><font size= 4> '''Random Variables and Signals''' </font size> <font size=...)
 
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<font size= 3> Topic 18: Conditional Expectation for Two Random Variables</font size>
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<font size= 3> Topic 18: Stochastic Convergence</font size>
 
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==Stochastic Convergence==
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We will now consider infinite sequences of random variables. We will discuss what it means for such a sequence to converge. This will lead to some very important results: the laws of large numbers and the Central Limit Theorem.
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Consider a sequence X<math>_1</math>,X<math>_2</math>,..., where each X<math>_i</math> is a random variable on (''S,F,''P). We will call this a random sequence (or a discrete-time random process).
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'''Notation''' <math>\qquad</math> X<math>_n</math> may refer to either the sequence itself or to the nth element in the sequence. We may also use {X<math>_n</math>} to denote the sequence, or X<math>_n</math>, n ≥ 1.
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The sequence X<math>_n</math> maps ''S'' to the set of all sequences of real numbers, so for a fixed ''S'', X<math>_1(\omega)</math>,X<math>_2(\omega)</math>,... is a sequence of real numbers.
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<center>[[Image:fig1_stochastic_convergence.png|350px|thumb|left|Fig 1: The mapping from the sample space to the reals under X<math>_j</math>.]]</center>
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Before looking at convergence, recall the meaning of convergence or a sequence of real numbers.
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'''Definition''' <math>\qquad</math> A sequence of real numbers x<math>_1</math>,x<math>_2</math>,... converges to a number x ∈ '''R''' if ∀<math>\epsilon</math> > 0, ∃ an n<math>_{\epsilon}</math> ∈ '''N''' such that <br/>
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<center><math>|x_n-x|<\epsilon\qquad\forall n\geq n_{\epsilon}</math></center>
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If there is such an x ∈ '''R''', we say <br/>
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<center><math>\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}x_n=x</math><br/>
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or<br/>
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<math>x_n\rightarrow\infty\;\mbox{as}\;n\rightarrow\infty</math></center>
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For a random sequence X<math>_n</math>, the issue of convergence is more complicated since X<math>_n</math> is a function of <math>\omega</math> ∈ ''S''.
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First look at a motivating example.
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'''Example''' <math>\qquad</math> Let X<math>_k</math> = s + W<math>_k</math>, where s ∈ '''R''' and W<math>_k</math> is a random sequence with E[W<math>_k</math>] = 0 ∀k = 1,2,.... W<math>_k</math> can be viewed as a noise sequence if we want to know the value of s.
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Let <br/>
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<center><math>Y_n=\frac{1}{n}\sum_{k=1}^nX_k</math></center>
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Then, E[Y<math>_n</math>] = s ∀n. But Y<math>_n</math> is a random variable, so we cannot expect Y<math>_n</math> = s ∀n. However, we intuitively expect Y<math>_n</math> to be a better estimate of s as n increases. Does Y<math>_n</math> → s as n → ∞ ? If so, in what sense?
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==Types of Convergence==
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Since X<math>_n(\omega)</math> is generally a different sequence for very <math>\omega</math> ∈ ''S'', what does it mean for X<math>_n</math> to converge? We will discuss different ways in which X<math>_n</math> can converge.

Revision as of 17:11, 21 November 2013

Back to all ECE 600 notes


Random Variables and Signals

Topic 18: Stochastic Convergence



Stochastic Convergence

We will now consider infinite sequences of random variables. We will discuss what it means for such a sequence to converge. This will lead to some very important results: the laws of large numbers and the Central Limit Theorem.

Consider a sequence X$ _1 $,X$ _2 $,..., where each X$ _i $ is a random variable on (S,F,P). We will call this a random sequence (or a discrete-time random process).

Notation $ \qquad $ X$ _n $ may refer to either the sequence itself or to the nth element in the sequence. We may also use {X$ _n $} to denote the sequence, or X$ _n $, n ≥ 1.

The sequence X$ _n $ maps S to the set of all sequences of real numbers, so for a fixed S, X$ _1(\omega) $,X$ _2(\omega) $,... is a sequence of real numbers.

Fig 1: The mapping from the sample space to the reals under X$ _j $.


Before looking at convergence, recall the meaning of convergence or a sequence of real numbers.

Definition $ \qquad $ A sequence of real numbers x$ _1 $,x$ _2 $,... converges to a number x ∈ R if ∀$ \epsilon $ > 0, ∃ an n$ _{\epsilon} $N such that

$ |x_n-x|<\epsilon\qquad\forall n\geq n_{\epsilon} $

If there is such an x ∈ R, we say

$ \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}x_n=x $

or

$ x_n\rightarrow\infty\;\mbox{as}\;n\rightarrow\infty $

For a random sequence X$ _n $, the issue of convergence is more complicated since X$ _n $ is a function of $ \omega $S.

First look at a motivating example.

Example $ \qquad $ Let X$ _k $ = s + W$ _k $, where s ∈ R and W$ _k $ is a random sequence with E[W$ _k $] = 0 ∀k = 1,2,.... W$ _k $ can be viewed as a noise sequence if we want to know the value of s.

Let

$ Y_n=\frac{1}{n}\sum_{k=1}^nX_k $

Then, E[Y$ _n $] = s ∀n. But Y$ _n $ is a random variable, so we cannot expect Y$ _n $ = s ∀n. However, we intuitively expect Y$ _n $ to be a better estimate of s as n increases. Does Y$ _n $ → s as n → ∞ ? If so, in what sense?



Types of Convergence

Since X$ _n(\omega) $ is generally a different sequence for very $ \omega $S, what does it mean for X$ _n $ to converge? We will discuss different ways in which X$ _n $ can converge.

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