{
  "aliases": null,
  "backlinks": [
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0WFMKK7DFZ"
    }
  ],
  "body": "\n## Definition\n\nLet $d \\ge 1$, let $x_0 \\in \\mathbb{R}^d$, and let $\\xi_1, \\xi_2, \\dots$ be [[i.i.d.|0AJN7WHBJZ]] random vectors in $\\mathbb{R}^d$.\nThe random walk with start $x_0$ and steps $\\xi_i$ is the [[stochastic process|0QH5ENKZM1]] $(S_n)_{n \\ge 0}$ with\n$$S_0 = x_0 \\quad \\text{and} \\quad S_n = x_0 + \\xi_1 + \\dots + \\xi_n \\quad \\text{for } n \\ge 1.$$\nThe simple random walk on $\\mathbb{Z}$ has $d = 1$, $x_0 = 0$ and $P(\\xi_i = 1) = P(\\xi_i = -1) = 1/2$.\n\n## Remarks\n\nFor the simple random walk on $\\mathbb{Z}$, $E[S_n] = 0$ and $\\operatorname{Var}(S_n) = n$. By the central limit theorem, $S_n/\\sqrt{n}$ converges in distribution to $\\mathcal{N}(0, 1)$.\nThe simple random walk on $\\mathbb{Z}^d$ returns to its start with probability $1$ if $d \\le 2$, and with probability less than $1$ if $d \\ge 3$. This is Pólya's theorem.\nA random walk is a Markov chain with transition probabilities that do not change under translation.\nAfter scaling of time and space, the simple random walk converges to the Wiener process.\n\n## Explanations\n\n### L1 human\n\nA random walk is the path of someone who, at each step, chooses a direction at random.\nIt models the price of a share, the motion of a particle in a fluid, and the fortune of a gambler.\n",
  "commit": "6ac761d40018146541484a9e8b9eafd6ecc303dc",
  "front": {
    "defines": "04VZE3FZXF",
    "kind": "definition",
    "msc": [
      "60G50"
    ],
    "name": "Random walk",
    "sources": [
      {
        "locator": "One-dimensional random walk",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_walk"
      }
    ],
    "tag": "0C08YMV95H",
    "uses": [
      "0AJN7WHBJZ",
      "0QH5ENKZM1"
    ]
  },
  "kind": "definition",
  "link": "https://math2.tamnd.com/node/0C08YMV95H/",
  "links": [
    {
      "field": "defines",
      "target": "04VZE3FZXF"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0AJN7WHBJZ"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0QH5ENKZM1"
    }
  ],
  "markdown": "https://math2.tamnd.com/node/0C08YMV95H.md",
  "msc": [
    "60G50"
  ],
  "name": "Random walk",
  "prov": null,
  "role": "",
  "source": "https://github.com/tamnd/math2/blob/main/nodes/0C0/0C08YMV95H.md",
  "status": null,
  "tag": "0C08YMV95H",
  "uri": "m2://0C08YMV95H",
  "url": "https://math2.tamnd.com/wiki/random-walk-definition/",
  "writing": {
    "tag": "0C08YMV95H",
    "kind": "definition",
    "level": "W1",
    "next": [
      {
        "what": "edge instance_of in",
        "note": "one example",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      },
      {
        "what": "edge not_instance_of in",
        "note": "one non-example that fails one clause",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      }
    ]
  }
}
