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Say there is a random walk $\{S_n\}$ with $S_0=0$ and 0. We know such a random walk would go to $-\infty$ eventually. Define the stopping time $T=\inf\{n: S_n=-\infty\}$, how can we argue that the stopping time is finite a.s., i.e., P(T<\infty)=1?

I know we definitely will use 0, and I know for such $p$, the returning time is not finite, which is transient. How can I apply this to show the stopping time $T$ is finite a.s.? Or is there another approach to this?

2 Answers 2

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You have not told us enough to reach your conclusions.

If you are saying each independent step is $+1$ with probability $p$ and $-1$ with probability $1-p$, with $p \lt \frac12$, then $S_n \not = -\infty$ for finite $n$, since $-n \le S_n \le n$. So $\Pr(T \lt \infty)=0$.

Since $p \lt \frac12$ you could conclude that $\lim_{n \to +\infty} S_n = -\infty$ with probability $1$ but that is not the same thing at all.

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    Thanks for your answer! You are right about all the assumptions that I don't mention in my question (each independent step is +1 with probability p and −1 with probability 1−p, with p<1/2) From your argument, I think maybe we cannot reach the conclusion that the stopping time is finite a.s. The reason I asked this I want to check the conditions of Optional stopping theorem, so I can use it to reach another conclusion.2012-04-25
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Considering $\:\:S_n=\sum_{j=1}^nX_j,\:\:X_j\:\text{ i.i.d},\:X_j\in\mathbb Z.$

If $\:\:\mathbb E[X_j]<0,\:$ by the strong law of large numbers : $\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{S_n}{n}\overset{a.s}{\longrightarrow}\mathbb E[X_j]<0\\\implies S_n\overset{n\to\infty}{\longrightarrow}-\infty.$

Thus, $\inf\{n: S_n=-\infty\}<\infty,$

So that the random walk will eventually reach its stopping time.