Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/ia/paper-2/11f/b/solution

The eventual extinction probability is the smallest solution . This is the Galton-Watson extinction fixed point result for one initial individual. Equivalently,
since having an empty generation is an absorbing event and the extinction-by-generation events increase. In particular extinction is certain when the smallest fixed point is one. With , an offspring mean at most one implies this, whereas a mean greater than one gives a fixed point below one. The fixed-point statement itself requires no finite-mean assumption.

New to topics? Read the docs here!