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Let $\sigma$ and $\tau$ be two stopping times in $\mathscr{F}_t$ and let this filtration satisfy all the usual conditions.

Question: Is $\sigma + \tau$ a stopping time?

Attempt at a solution:

I need to demonstrate that $\{ \sigma + \tau \leq t\}\in \mathscr{F}_t$, or that $\{\sigma \leq t - \tau \} \in \mathscr{F}_t$.

Since $\sigma$ is a stopping time we have that $\{\sigma \leq t - \tau\} \in \mathscr{F}_{t - \tau}$, where $t - \tau \in [0,t]$.

Since $t > t - \tau$, we have that $\mathscr{F}_{t-\tau} \subseteq \mathscr{F}_t$ by the definition of $\mathscr{F}$.

This implies that $\{\sigma \leq t - \tau\} \in \mathscr{F}_t$, and that $\sigma + \tau$ is a stopping time.


Is my attempt correct?

  • 1
    It seems like you're working with $\tau$ as if it were a constant. For example: "Since $\sigma$ is a stopping time we have that $\{\sigma\leq t-\tau\}\in\mathscr{F}_{t-\tau}$" - is this clear from the definition of $\sigma$ being a stopping time?2012-11-08
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    I thought that that is true because of the following: Since I'm told that $\sigma$ is a stopping time, then $\{\sigma \leq x\} \in \mathscr{F}_x$ for any $x \in [0,\infty)$. Now for $x = t - \tau$, it's true that the image $x(\omega)$ satisfies the above, but I'm not sure if $x$ itself does. I'm pretty bad at maths (unfortunately).2012-11-08
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    The problem is that $\{\sigma\leq x\}\in\mathscr{F}_x$ holds for any deterministic (constant) $x\in [0,\infty)$. Now $x=t-\tau$ is random, i.e. $x(\omega)=t-\tau(\omega)$, so we cannot apply the definition on this $x$. Actually $x(\omega)$ may even be negative (if $\tau(\omega)>t$).2012-11-08
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    @StefanHansen Okay then I'm lost in this problem unfortunately.2012-11-08

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