Discrete Stochastic Processes

Markov Chains for Dummies

A frog that forgets where it has been: one equation per state, and the chain solves itself.

What to remember

  • Markov: the future depends only on the present state.
  • First-step analysis: one linear equation per state.
  • Long run: solve π = πP, or use detailed balance when the chain is reversible.
Read the lessonMarkov Chains, with a checkpoint at the end.