Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ii Paper 1 28K d Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Let be an invariant distribution for the continuous-time Markov chain. Using , its stationarity equation becomesThus the measure with weights is invariant for the irreducible positive-recurrent jump chain. Its invariant distribution is unique, so . Normalization gives the invariant-measure transfer between a jump chain and a CTMC formulaThe denominator is finite and nonzero because . Thus is a probability distribution and is positive recurrent.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 2 27K ii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Here the total holding rate isand therefore the jump chain has state-independent transitionsIt is an upward biased random walk on . By the strong law of large numbers, almost surely, so . The jump chain, and hence , is transient.
Counting measure is invariant for this jump chain: for every , its incoming mass is . The invariant-measure transfer between a jump chain and a CTMC therefore gives an invariant measure proportional to . Sincethe normalized invariant distribution of a continuous-time Markov chain isThis does not contradict transience because an invariant distribution of an explosive chain need not imply positive recurrence.
It remains to verify explosion. Starting from zero, the probability that the biased walk ever reaches is . Once it reaches any state, its probability of returning after departure isso its expected total number of visits to that state, conditional on reaching it, is . If is the number of visits to , thenConsequently the expected sum of all holding times isThe nonnegative random variable is therefore finite almost surely. By explosion by summable holding times, makes infinitely many jumps by time , so it is explosive.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 2 28J c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
False. Take the chain from part (b) with . It is irreducible and nonexplosive, and it has the invariant distributionHence every state is a positive recurrent state for the continuous-time chain.
Its jump chain is the reflected simple symmetric random walk on . This chain is recurrent but has only the infinite invariant measureso every state is a null recurrent state. Equivalently, the invariant-measure transfer between a jump chain and a CTMC divides this infinite jump-chain measure by the rapidly growing holding rates and produces the summable continuous-time invariant measure. Thus fast holding rates create continuous-time positive recurrence, and positive recurrence need not pass from a continuous-time chain to its jump chain.