MathDB
Miklos Schweitzer 1952_7

Source:

October 12, 2008
probabilitylimitprobability and stats

Problem Statement

A point P P is performing a random walk on the X X-axis. At the instant t\equal{}0, P P is at a point x0 x_0 (x0N |x_0|\le N, where x0 x_0 and N N denote integers, N>0 N>0). If at an instant t t (t t being a nonnegative integer), P P is at a point of x x integer abscissa and x<N |x|<N, then by the instant t\plus{}1 it reaches either the point x\plus{}1 or the point x\minus{}1, each with probability 12 \frac12. If at the instant t t, P P is at the point x\equal{}N [ x\equal{}\minus{}N], then by the instant t\plus{}1 it is certain to reach the point N\minus{}1 [ \minus{}N\plus{}1]. Denote by Pk(t) P_k(t) the probability of P P being at x\equal{}k at instant t t (k k is an integer). Find limtPk(2t) \lim_{t\to \infty}P_{k}(2t) and \lim_{t\to \infty}P_k(2t\plus{}1) for every fixed k k.