Course Description

The course is broadly divided into 2 modules:

  • Module 1 Random Number Generation
  • Module 2 Random Processes

Course Syllabus

Review of basic probability: Random variables and random vectors, Classical Inequalities and limit theorems

Random Number Generation; Generation of Random Variables: Inverse Transform method, Acceptance- rejection method, Variance Reduction methods: Control Variate, Conditioning, Importance Sampling; Uncertainty, Entropy.

Random Processes: Definition and classification of random processes, Autocorrelation and properties, Random process through LTI systems, Bernoulli processes, Markov Chains (MCs): Preliminaries, Discrete-time MC: Transition Probability Matrix, Classification of states, Chapman-Kolmogorov Equation, Limiting & stationary Distributions, Ergodic MC; Continuous time MC: Poisson Process, Weiner process, Birth and Death Processes; Application and Case Studies.

Course Logistics

  • Schedule: Slot E, 8:00 am - 8:55 am Tuesday, 9:00 am - 9:55 am Wednesday, 10:00 am - 10:55 am Thursday
  • Venue: 5205, Core 5.

Course Evaluation

  • Quizzes: 30%
  • Mid semester exam: 30%
  • End semester exam: 30%
  • Participation: 10%

Some references (not an exhaustive list)

  • Ross, S.M., 2022. Simulation. Academic Press.
  • Ross, S.M., 1995. Stochastic processes. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Bertsekas, D. and Tsitsiklis, J.N., 2008. Introduction to probability (Vol. 1). Athena Scientific.
  • Blitzstein, J.K., and Hwang J., 2019. Introduction to probability. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Tentative Lecture Plan

Lecture Date Topic
Lecture 1 6-Jan-2025 Introduction to Monte Carlo Simulations
Lecture 2 7-Jan-2025 Pseudorandom number generators
Lecture 3 8-Jan-2025 Inverse transform for discrete random variables
Lecture 4 13-Jan-2025 Accept-Reject sampling for discrete random variables
Lecture 5 15-Jan-2025 Composition method
Lecture 6 20-Jan-2025 Inverse transform for continuous random variables
Lecture 7 21-Jan-2025 Accept-Reject sampling for continuous random variables
Lecture 8 22-Jan-2025 Accept-Reject sampling for continuous random variables
Lecture 9 27-Jan-2025 Quiz 1; Accept-Reject sampling for continuous random variables
Lecture 10 28-Jan-2025 Box Muller and Ratio of Uniforms
Lecture 11 3-Feb-2025 Ratio of Uniforms
Lecture 12 4-Feb-2025 Miscellaneous methods in sampling
Lecture 13 5-Feb-2025 Variance reduction techniques
Lecture 14 10-Feb-2025 Variance reduction techniques
Lecture 15 11-Feb-2025 Simple Monte Carlo, Importance sampling
Lecture 16 12-Feb-2025 Importance sampling
Lecture 17 17-Feb-2025 Optimal Importance sampling
Lecture 18 18-Feb-2025 Quiz 2; Uncertainty; Entropy
Lecture 19 19-Feb-2025
Lecture 20 25-Feb-2025 Introduction to random processes
Lecture 21 26-Feb-2025 Bernoulli Process
6-Mar-2025 Mid Semester Examination