TY - BOOK AU - Privault,Nicolas ED - SpringerLink (Online service) TI - Understanding Markov Chains: Examples and Applications T2 - Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series, SN - 9789814451512 AV - QA273.A1-274.9 U1 - 519.2 23 PY - 2013/// CY - Singapore PB - Springer Singapore, Imprint: Springer KW - Mathematics KW - Probabilities KW - Statistics KW - Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes KW - Statistical Theory and Methods KW - Statistics for Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Chemistry and Earth Sciences N1 - Introduction -- 1) Probability Background -- 2) Gambling Problems -- 3) Random Walks -- 4) Discrete-Time Markov Chains -- 5) First Step Analysis -- 6) Classication of States -- 7) Long-Run Behavior of Markov Chains -- 8) Branching Processes -- 9) Continuous-Time Markov Chains -- 10) Discrete-Time Martingales -- 11) Spatial Poisson Processes -- 12) Reliability Theory -- Some Useful Identities -- Solutions to the Exercises -- References -- Index N2 - This book provides an undergraduate introduction to discrete and continuous-time Markov chains and their applications. A large focus is placed on the first step analysis technique and its applications to average hitting times and ruin probabilities. Classical topics such as recurrence and transience, stationary and limiting distributions, as well as branching processes, are also covered. Two major examples (gambling processes and random walks) are treated in detail from the beginning, before the general theory itself is presented in the subsequent chapters. An introduction to discrete-time martingales and their relation to ruin probabilities and mean exit times is also provided, and the book includes a chapter on spatial Poisson processes with some recent results on moment identities and deviation inequalities for Poisson stochastic integrals. The concepts presented are illustrated by examples and by 72 exercises and their complete solutions UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4451-51-2 ER -