Math 2.0

Probability theory and stochastic processes Definition

Finite-dimensional distributions

Builds on Stochastic processProbability spaceLaw of a random variableSigma-algebra

Definition

Let (Ω,ℱ,P)(\Omega, \mathcal{F}, P) be a probability space, and let (S,𝒮)(S, \mathcal{S}) be a measurable space. Let X=(Xt)t∈TX = (X_t)_{t \in T} be a stochastic process with values in SS, indexed by a set TT. Let 𝒮⊗k\mathcal{S}^{\otimes k} be the product sigma-algebra on SkS^k. For k≥1k \ge 1 and distinct t1,…,tk∈Tt_1, \dots, t_k \in T, the finite-dimensional distribution of XX at (t1,…,tk)(t_1, \dots, t_k) is the measure μt1,…,tk\mu_{t_1, \dots, t_k} on (Sk,𝒮⊗k)(S^k, \mathcal{S}^{\otimes k}) given by μt1,…,tk(B)=P((Xt1,…,Xtk)∈B)for B∈𝒮⊗k.\mu_{t_1, \dots, t_k}(B) = P\bigl((X_{t_1}, \dots, X_{t_k}) \in B\bigr) \quad \text{for } B \in \mathcal{S}^{\otimes k}. So μt1,…,tk\mu_{t_1, \dots, t_k} is the law of the random vector (Xt1,…,Xtk)(X_{t_1}, \dots, X_{t_k}). The finite-dimensional distributions of XX are the family of all these measures.

Remarks

The family is consistent. Permuting the times permutes the coordinates of the measure, and μt1,…,tk(B×S)=μt1,…,tk−1(B)\mu_{t_1, \dots, t_k}(B \times S) = \mu_{t_1, \dots, t_{k-1}}(B). Conversely, for SS a Polish space, the Kolmogorov extension theorem gives a process with any prescribed consistent family.

Example: for the standard Wiener process WW on T=[0,∞)T = [0, \infty), the law of (Wt1,…,Wtk)(W_{t_1}, \dots, W_{t_k}) is the multivariate normal distribution with mean 00 and covariance matrix (min⁡(ti,tj))i,j(\min(t_i, t_j))_{i, j}.

Two processes with the same finite-dimensional distributions can have different paths. Let UU be uniform on [0,1][0, 1], let Xt=0X_t = 0 and let Yt=𝟏{t=U}Y_t = \mathbf{1}_{\set{t = U}} for t∈[0,1]t \in [0, 1]. For any fixed times, P(Yti=0 for all i)=1P(Y_{t_i} = 0 \text{ for all } i) = 1, so XX and YY have the same finite-dimensional distributions. But every path of XX is continuous, and no path of YY is continuous.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 43 pages in order. The foundations come first.

  1. Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
  2. Element definition
  3. Integers object
  4. Law of a random variable concept
  5. Ordered field definition
  6. Probability space concept
  7. Proposition concept
  8. Random experiment concept
  9. Rational numbers object
  10. Real numbers object
  11. Sigma-algebra concept
  12. Set definition
  13. Ring of integers statement
  14. Disjunction definition
  15. Implication definition
  16. Predicate definition
  17. Ordered pair definition
  18. Union definition
  19. Sample space definition
  20. Existential quantifier definition
  21. Universal quantifier definition
  22. The rationals form a field statement
  23. Cartesian product definition
  24. Subset definition
  25. Uniqueness quantifier definition
  26. The rationals form an ordered field statement
  27. Binary relation definition
  28. Universal set definition
  29. Power set definition
  30. Order on the reals definition
  31. Complement definition
  32. Function definition
  33. Interval definition
  34. Sigma-algebra definition
  35. Preimage of a set definition
  36. Event definition
  37. Borel sigma-algebra definition
  38. Probability axioms concept
  39. Probability measure definition
  40. Probability space definition
  41. Random variable definition
  42. Stochastic process concept
  43. Finite-dimensional distributions definition

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite-dimensional_distribution
About this page
TagCFQXJ4FHR4
URIm2://CFQXJ4FHR4
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC60G05, 60G07
DefinesFinite-dimensional distributions
UsesStochastic process, Probability space, Law of a random variable, Sigma-algebra
Changed2 November 2026

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