Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 47 2 Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let . The causality root criterion for an autoregressive model,is a sufficient condition for a weakly stationary process solution, and gives the causal solution . Indeed is analytic in a disk of radius greater than one, so its Taylor coefficients decay geometrically. The series therefore has mean-square convergence and defines a linear filter of a stationary time series; multiplying by verifies the equation.
For the specified order-two model, put . Since ,When , its roots are and . Both have modulus greater than one exactly when . The case is white noise and satisfies the same inequality. ConsequentlyThis is the causal stationarity condition selected above. Without causality, a two-sided autoregressive model can also have a noncausal stationary autoregression when its polynomial has no unit-circle zeros. Thus the inequality is not a necessary condition for all conceivable weak stationarity solutions; the causal interpretation is the one required by the subsequent innovations and forecasting questions.
To find the Wold representation, expand . Matching coefficients gives , and . HenceHere are the Fibonacci numbers. The coefficient formula also follows by partial fractions in the displayed factorization. Absolute summability follows from and . The past observation span equals the past noise span, because the causal series gives one inclusion and gives the reverse inclusion. Thus these noises are the linear innovations, and there is no additional deterministic component. This is the Fibonacci-coefficient autoregression.
The best linear prediction from an infinite past is the orthogonal projection onto the closed span of . Future white noise is orthogonal to that span. Substitution in the recursion therefore givesThe respective errors are and , so their mean squared errors are and . No normal distribution assumption is needed for these linear forecasts.