Course

Discrete Stochastic Processes

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Discrete stochastic processes are essentially probabilistic systems that evolve in time via random changes occurring at discrete fixed or random intervals. This course aims to help students acquire both the mathematical principles and the intuition necessary to create, analyze, and understand insightful models for a broad range of these processes. The range of areas for which discrete stochastic-process models are useful is constantly expanding, and includes many applications in engineering, physics, biology, operations research and finance.

Course Lectures
  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • From Poisson to Markov
    Robert Gallager

    We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • The Last Renewal
    Robert Gallager

    We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • Random Walks and Thresholds
    Robert Gallager

    We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.

  • Putting It All Together
    Robert Gallager

    We revisit the shortest paths problem, considering the case where the input is a directed minor-free graph with negative arc lengths (but no negative-length cycles).In Lecture 14, we saw almost-linear-time algorithms for the case of planar and bounded-genus graphs. Currently, comparable bounds for minor-free graphs are not known. We shall discuss Goldberg's algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm for general graphs with integer lengths, whose running time depends logarithmically on the magnitude of the largest negative arc length. By exploiting separators (Lecture 6), it runs faster on minor-free graphs than on general graphs, but it still requires superlinear time.