For , , and ,where . The diffusion generator is . Its bounded eigenfunction on the positive half-line with boundary value one is , giving the formula through the discounted boundary-hitting representation. The zero-discount limit is the hitting probability .
Assume , put and let . In the continuation region , the time-independent Black-Scholes equation is a Cauchy-Euler equation. Substituting givesSet . The two powers are and . The boundary condition as removes the growing solution; value matching at sets the coefficient. Hence the fixed-trigger value isFor the policy exercises immediately, giving . The quoted continuation expression alone does not apply below the exercise boundary. Equivalently, the discounted boundary-hitting representation gives , which multiplies the exercise financial payoff.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2013 iii Paper 25 6 d Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
On the event , continuity puts on the boundary, where . The limit found in part (c) is therefore , defining this expression to be zero when . Taking expectations and using the bounded convergence justified in part (c) givesThe conclusion does not require almost-sure finiteness of . It is the discounted boundary-hitting representation for a bounded solution of .