Advanced probability and applications

COM-417

Media

16, COM-417: Lecture 5.3

25.05.2020, 08:57

Joint distribution of a Gaussian random vector

11, COM-417: Lecture 4.1

25.05.2020, 08:52

Expectation of a random variable

23, COM-417: Lecture 7.3

25.05.2020, 09:12

Kolmogorov's 0-1 law

4, COM-417: Lecture 1.3

25.05.2020, 08:38

Sigma-field generated by a collection of random variables

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

APA_lecture14b_partI

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

22, COM-417: Lecture 7.2 bis

25.05.2020, 09:09

A remark about the proof of the LLN

6, COM-417: Lecture 2.2

25.05.2020, 08:40

Distribution of a random variable

27, COM-417: Lecture 9.1

25.05.2020, 09:16

The central limit theorem

34, COM-417: Lecture 10.3

25.05.2020, 09:31

Concentration: Hoeffding's inequality

23, COM-417: Lecture 7.3

25.05.2020, 09:12

Kolmogorov's 0-1 law

18, COM-417: Lecture 6.2

25.05.2020, 09:02

Various types of convergence of sequences of random variables

APA_lecture14a_partI

31.05.2023, 16:00

APA_lecture12a_partI

17.05.2023, 16:22

10, COM-417: Lecture 3.3

25.05.2020, 08:50

Convolution

APA_lecture10b_partI

04.05.2023, 10:37

7, COM-417: Lecture 2.3

25.05.2020, 08:41

The Devil's staircase

45, COM-417: Lecture 13.2c

25.05.2020, 09:43

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 3)

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

COM-417 Advanced Probability and Applications

15.04.2023, 13:27

6, COM-417: Lecture 2.2

25.05.2020, 08:40

Distribution of a random variable

30, COM-417: Lecture 9.3

25.05.2020, 09:23

Proof of the CLT using characteristic functions

34, COM-417: Lecture 10.3

25.05.2020, 09:31

Concentration: Hoeffding's inequality

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

APA_lecture13b_partII

25.05.2023, 10:00

30, COM-417: Lecture 9.3

25.05.2020, 09:23

Proof of the CLT using characteristic functions

40, COM-417: Lecture 12.2

25.05.2020, 09:38

Sub- and super-martingales, stopping times

2, COM-417: Lecture 1.1

25.05.2020, 08:35

Sigma-fields, sigma-field generated by a collection of events

Here is a small extra comment regarding the definition of a sigma-field:

From the third axiom regarding countable unions of sets, you can deduce directly that finite unions should also be part of the sigma-field by considering a countable sequence of sets where you replace each A_m by an empty set when m > n; in this case, U_{m>=1} A_m = A_1 U ... U A_n 

13, COM-417: Lecture 4.3

25.05.2020, 08:53

Characteristic function

31, COM-417: Lecture 10.1a

25.05.2020, 09:27

The coupon collector problem (part 1)

APA_lecture12a_partII

17.05.2023, 16:23

APA_lecture14b_partII

01.06.2023, 15:27

22, COM-417: Lecture 7.2 bis

25.05.2020, 09:09

A remark about the proof of the LLN

23, COM-417: Lecture 7.3

25.05.2020, 09:12

Kolmogorov's 0-1 law

8, COM-417: Lecture 3.1

25.05.2020, 08:43

Independence of two events, random variables, sigma-fields

One thing I forgot to mention in the video: it is usually more demanding to check that two random variables are independent than to check that they are not:

- To prove that two random variables are not independent, it suffices indeed to find one counter-example, namely two (Borel) sets B_1, B_2 such that P({X_1 in B_1, X_2 in B_2}) is not equal to P({X_1 in B_1}) P({ X_2 in B_2}).

- On the contrary, independence requires that equality holds for all (Borel) sets B_1, B_2. In that sense, it is much more demanding than asking that the two random variables are just uncorrelated (which boils down to checking that a single number Cov(X_1,X_2)=0, as we shall see next week).

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

39, COM-417: Lecture 12.1

25.05.2020, 09:37

Martingales

11, COM-417: Lecture 4.1

25.05.2020, 08:52

Expectation of a random variable

APA_lecture13b_partI

25.05.2023, 09:59

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

16, COM-417: Lecture 5.3

25.05.2020, 08:57

Joint distribution of a Gaussian random vector

6, COM-417: Lecture 2.2

25.05.2020, 08:40

Distribution of a random variable

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

APA_lecture14a_partII

31.05.2023, 16:00

7, COM-417: Lecture 2.3

25.05.2020, 08:41

The Devil's staircase

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

41, COM-417: Lecture 12.3

25.05.2020, 09:39

The optional stopping theorem, with a proof

26, COM-417: Lecture 8.3

25.05.2020, 09:15

The Curie-Weiss model

34, COM-417: Lecture 10.3

25.05.2020, 09:31

Concentration: Hoeffding's inequality

18, COM-417: Lecture 6.2

25.05.2020, 09:02

Various types of convergence of sequences of random variables

9, COM-417: Lecture 3.2

25.05.2020, 08:44

Independence of more sigma-fields

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

16, COM-417: Lecture 5.3

25.05.2020, 08:57

Joint distribution of a Gaussian random vector

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

APA_lecture13b_partII

25.05.2023, 10:00

30, COM-417: Lecture 9.3

25.05.2020, 09:23

Proof of the CLT using characteristic functions

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

APA_lecture10b_partII

04.05.2023, 10:37

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

3, COM-417: Lecture 1.2

25.05.2020, 08:37

Sub-sigma-fields, random variables

4, COM-417: Lecture 1.3

25.05.2020, 08:38

Sigma-field generated by a collection of random variables

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

APA_lecture10b_partI

04.05.2023, 10:37

APA_lecture12a_partI

17.05.2023, 16:22

40, COM-417: Lecture 12.2

25.05.2020, 09:38

Sub- and super-martingales, stopping times

43, COM-417: Lecture 13.2a

25.05.2020, 09:42

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 1)

35, COM-417: Lecture 11.1

25.05.2020, 09:32

Concentration: large deviations principle

APA_lecture13b_partII

25.05.2023, 10:00

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

COM-417 Advanced Probability and Applications

APA_lecture14b_partIII

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture14b_partII

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture14b_partI

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture14a_partII

31.05.2023, 16:00

APA_lecture14a_partI

31.05.2023, 16:00

APA_lecture13b_partII

25.05.2023, 10:00

APA_lecture13b_partI

25.05.2023, 09:59

APA_lecture13a_partII

24.05.2023, 16:21

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

APA_lecture12a_partII

17.05.2023, 16:23

APA_lecture12a_partI

17.05.2023, 16:22

APA_lecture11b_partII

11.05.2023, 10:34

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

APA_lecture10b_partII

04.05.2023, 10:37

APA_lecture10b_partI

04.05.2023, 10:37

APA_lecture9b_partII

27.04.2023, 10:23

APA_lecture9b_partI

27.04.2023, 10:22

APA_lecture8b_partII

20.04.2023, 10:39

APA_lecture8b_partI

20.04.2023, 10:38

APA_lecture8a_partII

19.04.2023, 16:27

APA_lecture8a_partI

19.04.2023, 16:20

53, COM-417 Complement: Convergence in distribution

30.04.2021, 11:33

An interesting counter-example

52, COM-417 Complement: Monotone class theorem

14.04.2021, 19:03

51, COM-417 Complement: Some examples of cdfs

03.03.2021, 20:22

50, COM-417: Lecture 14.2b

25.01.2021, 10:07

McMiarmid's inequality

49, COM-417: Lecture 14.2a

25.01.2021, 10:06

Azuma's inequality

48, COM-417: Lecture 14.1b

24.01.2021, 22:05

Generalization of the MCT to sub- and supermartingales (part b)

47, COM-417: Lecture 14.1a

24.01.2021, 22:04

Generalization of the MCT to sub- and supermartingales (part a)

54, COM-417 Complement: Extra lecture on R0

25.05.2020, 10:00

Extra lecture about branching processes, recorded in April 2020

After recording this, I realized it would perhaps be more appropriate to refer to "R" in this lecture, rather than to "R0": R0 is indeed the "basic reproduction number" of the virus, estimated around 3.5, on which one has no control; while R is its "effective reproduction number", on which our behaviour can have a great influence. 

46, COM-417: Lecture 13.3

25.05.2020, 09:44

The martingale convergence theorem (version 2)

45, COM-417: Lecture 13.2c

25.05.2020, 09:43

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 3)

44, COM-417: Lecture 13.2b

25.05.2020, 09:43

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 2)

43, COM-417: Lecture 13.2a

25.05.2020, 09:42

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 1)

42, COM-417: Lecture 13.1

25.05.2020, 09:40

The martingale convergence theorem (version 1)

Note: contrary to what is said at the beginning of the video, this is not the last lecture of the semester: there is still one to come (Lecture 14).

41, COM-417: Lecture 12.3

25.05.2020, 09:39

The optional stopping theorem, with a proof

40, COM-417: Lecture 12.2

25.05.2020, 09:38

Sub- and super-martingales, stopping times

39, COM-417: Lecture 12.1

25.05.2020, 09:37

Martingales

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

35, COM-417: Lecture 11.1

25.05.2020, 09:32

Concentration: large deviations principle

34, COM-417: Lecture 10.3

25.05.2020, 09:31

Concentration: Hoeffding's inequality

33, COM-417: Lecture 10.2

25.05.2020, 09:30

Moments and Carleman's theorem

Here is a link to the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences mentioned at the end of the above video: oeis.org (@Neil Sloane)

32, COM-417: Lecture 10.1b

25.05.2020, 09:28

The coupon collector problem (part 2)

31, COM-417: Lecture 10.1a

25.05.2020, 09:27

The coupon collector problem (part 1)

30, COM-417: Lecture 9.3

25.05.2020, 09:23

Proof of the CLT using characteristic functions

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

27, COM-417: Lecture 9.1

25.05.2020, 09:16

The central limit theorem

26, COM-417: Lecture 8.3

25.05.2020, 09:15

The Curie-Weiss model

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

24, COM-417: Lecture 8.1

25.05.2020, 09:13

St Petersburg's paradox and extension of the weak law

Sorry, as the beginning of this one is a bit chaotic; also, it is slightly longer than the others... but it is worth the effort, I think!

23, COM-417: Lecture 7.3

25.05.2020, 09:12

Kolmogorov's 0-1 law

22, COM-417: Lecture 7.2 bis

25.05.2020, 09:09

A remark about the proof of the LLN

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

19, COM-417: Lecture 6.3

25.05.2020, 09:03

Almost sure convergence implies convergence in probability

18, COM-417: Lecture 6.2

25.05.2020, 09:02

Various types of convergence of sequences of random variables

17, COM-417: Lecture 6.1

25.05.2020, 09:00

Cauchy-Schwarz, Jensen and Chebyshev inequalities

16, COM-417: Lecture 5.3

25.05.2020, 08:57

Joint distribution of a Gaussian random vector

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

13, COM-417: Lecture 4.3

25.05.2020, 08:53

Characteristic function

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

11, COM-417: Lecture 4.1

25.05.2020, 08:52

Expectation of a random variable

10, COM-417: Lecture 3.3

25.05.2020, 08:50

Convolution

9, COM-417: Lecture 3.2

25.05.2020, 08:44

Independence of more sigma-fields

8, COM-417: Lecture 3.1

25.05.2020, 08:43

Independence of two events, random variables, sigma-fields

One thing I forgot to mention in the video: it is usually more demanding to check that two random variables are independent than to check that they are not:

- To prove that two random variables are not independent, it suffices indeed to find one counter-example, namely two (Borel) sets B_1, B_2 such that P({X_1 in B_1, X_2 in B_2}) is not equal to P({X_1 in B_1}) P({ X_2 in B_2}).

- On the contrary, independence requires that equality holds for all (Borel) sets B_1, B_2. In that sense, it is much more demanding than asking that the two random variables are just uncorrelated (which boils down to checking that a single number Cov(X_1,X_2)=0, as we shall see next week).

7, COM-417: Lecture 2.3

25.05.2020, 08:41

The Devil's staircase

6, COM-417: Lecture 2.2

25.05.2020, 08:40

Distribution of a random variable

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

4, COM-417: Lecture 1.3

25.05.2020, 08:38

Sigma-field generated by a collection of random variables

3, COM-417: Lecture 1.2

25.05.2020, 08:37

Sub-sigma-fields, random variables

1, COM-417: Introduction and notations

25.05.2020, 08:36

2, COM-417: Lecture 1.1

25.05.2020, 08:35

Sigma-fields, sigma-field generated by a collection of events

Here is a small extra comment regarding the definition of a sigma-field:

From the third axiom regarding countable unions of sets, you can deduce directly that finite unions should also be part of the sigma-field by considering a countable sequence of sets where you replace each A_m by an empty set when m > n; in this case, U_{m>=1} A_m = A_1 U ... U A_n 

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

40, COM-417: Lecture 12.2

25.05.2020, 09:38

Sub- and super-martingales, stopping times

35, COM-417: Lecture 11.1

25.05.2020, 09:32

Concentration: large deviations principle

24, COM-417: Lecture 8.1

25.05.2020, 09:13

St Petersburg's paradox and extension of the weak law

Sorry, as the beginning of this one is a bit chaotic; also, it is slightly longer than the others... but it is worth the effort, I think!

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

9, COM-417: Lecture 3.2

25.05.2020, 08:44

Independence of more sigma-fields

48, COM-417: Lecture 14.1b

24.01.2021, 22:05

Generalization of the MCT to sub- and supermartingales (part b)

APA_lecture12a_partI

17.05.2023, 16:22

9, COM-417: Lecture 3.2

25.05.2020, 08:44

Independence of more sigma-fields

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

APA_lecture14a_partI

31.05.2023, 16:00

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

9, COM-417: Lecture 3.2

25.05.2020, 08:44

Independence of more sigma-fields

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

23, COM-417: Lecture 7.3

25.05.2020, 09:12

Kolmogorov's 0-1 law

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

APA_lecture14b_partIII

01.06.2023, 15:27

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

APA_lecture14b_partII

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture12a_partII

17.05.2023, 16:23

13, COM-417: Lecture 4.3

25.05.2020, 08:53

Characteristic function

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

42, COM-417: Lecture 13.1

25.05.2020, 09:40

The martingale convergence theorem (version 1)

Note: contrary to what is said at the beginning of the video, this is not the last lecture of the semester: there is still one to come (Lecture 14).

50, COM-417: Lecture 14.2b

25.01.2021, 10:07

McMiarmid's inequality

35, COM-417: Lecture 11.1

25.05.2020, 09:32

Concentration: large deviations principle

APA_lecture13b_partII

25.05.2023, 10:00

2, COM-417: Lecture 1.1

25.05.2020, 08:35

Sigma-fields, sigma-field generated by a collection of events

Here is a small extra comment regarding the definition of a sigma-field:

From the third axiom regarding countable unions of sets, you can deduce directly that finite unions should also be part of the sigma-field by considering a countable sequence of sets where you replace each A_m by an empty set when m > n; in this case, U_{m>=1} A_m = A_1 U ... U A_n 

APA_lecture12a_partI

17.05.2023, 16:22

10, COM-417: Lecture 3.3

25.05.2020, 08:50

Convolution

39, COM-417: Lecture 12.1

25.05.2020, 09:37

Martingales

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

39, COM-417: Lecture 12.1

25.05.2020, 09:37

Martingales

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

COM-417 Advanced Probability and Applications

15.04.2023, 13:27

APA_lecture14b_partIII

01.06.2023, 15:27

4, COM-417: Lecture 1.3

25.05.2020, 08:38

Sigma-field generated by a collection of random variables

17, COM-417: Lecture 6.1

25.05.2020, 09:00

Cauchy-Schwarz, Jensen and Chebyshev inequalities

27, COM-417: Lecture 9.1

25.05.2020, 09:16

The central limit theorem

APA_lecture13a_partII

24.05.2023, 16:21

22, COM-417: Lecture 7.2 bis

25.05.2020, 09:09

A remark about the proof of the LLN

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

7, COM-417: Lecture 2.3

25.05.2020, 08:41

The Devil's staircase

26, COM-417: Lecture 8.3

25.05.2020, 09:15

The Curie-Weiss model

32, COM-417: Lecture 10.1b

25.05.2020, 09:28

The coupon collector problem (part 2)

APA recordings (2023)

19.04.2023, 16:28

APA_lecture8a_partI

19.04.2023, 16:20

APA_lecture8a_partII

19.04.2023, 16:27

APA_lecture8b_partI

20.04.2023, 10:38

APA_lecture8b_partII

20.04.2023, 10:39

APA_lecture9b_partI

27.04.2023, 10:22

APA_lecture9b_partII

27.04.2023, 10:23

APA_lecture10b_partI

04.05.2023, 10:37

APA_lecture10b_partII

04.05.2023, 10:37

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

APA_lecture11b_partII

11.05.2023, 10:34

APA_lecture12a_partI

17.05.2023, 16:22

APA_lecture12a_partII

17.05.2023, 16:23

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

APA_lecture13a_partII

24.05.2023, 16:21

APA_lecture13b_partI

25.05.2023, 09:59

APA_lecture13b_partII

25.05.2023, 10:00

APA_lecture14a_partI

31.05.2023, 16:00

APA_lecture14a_partII

31.05.2023, 16:00

APA_lecture14b_partI

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture14b_partII

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture14b_partIII

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture14a_partI

31.05.2023, 16:00

17, COM-417: Lecture 6.1

25.05.2020, 09:00

Cauchy-Schwarz, Jensen and Chebyshev inequalities

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

49, COM-417: Lecture 14.2a

25.01.2021, 10:06

Azuma's inequality

3, COM-417: Lecture 1.2

25.05.2020, 08:37

Sub-sigma-fields, random variables

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

6, COM-417: Lecture 2.2

25.05.2020, 08:40

Distribution of a random variable

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

8, COM-417: Lecture 3.1

25.05.2020, 08:43

Independence of two events, random variables, sigma-fields

One thing I forgot to mention in the video: it is usually more demanding to check that two random variables are independent than to check that they are not:

- To prove that two random variables are not independent, it suffices indeed to find one counter-example, namely two (Borel) sets B_1, B_2 such that P({X_1 in B_1, X_2 in B_2}) is not equal to P({X_1 in B_1}) P({ X_2 in B_2}).

- On the contrary, independence requires that equality holds for all (Borel) sets B_1, B_2. In that sense, it is much more demanding than asking that the two random variables are just uncorrelated (which boils down to checking that a single number Cov(X_1,X_2)=0, as we shall see next week).

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

APA_lecture13b_partI

25.05.2023, 09:59

APA_lecture11b_partII

11.05.2023, 10:34

17, COM-417: Lecture 6.1

25.05.2020, 09:00

Cauchy-Schwarz, Jensen and Chebyshev inequalities

35, COM-417: Lecture 11.1

25.05.2020, 09:32

Concentration: large deviations principle

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

4, COM-417: Lecture 1.3

25.05.2020, 08:38

Sigma-field generated by a collection of random variables

APA_lecture10b_partI

04.05.2023, 10:37

18, COM-417: Lecture 6.2

25.05.2020, 09:02

Various types of convergence of sequences of random variables

APA_lecture14b_partIII

01.06.2023, 15:27

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

7, COM-417: Lecture 2.3

25.05.2020, 08:41

The Devil's staircase

APA_lecture14b_partI

01.06.2023, 15:27

APA_lecture14a_partI

31.05.2023, 16:00

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

31, COM-417: Lecture 10.1a

25.05.2020, 09:27

The coupon collector problem (part 1)

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

19, COM-417: Lecture 6.3

25.05.2020, 09:03

Almost sure convergence implies convergence in probability

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

24, COM-417: Lecture 8.1

25.05.2020, 09:13

St Petersburg's paradox and extension of the weak law

Sorry, as the beginning of this one is a bit chaotic; also, it is slightly longer than the others... but it is worth the effort, I think!

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

13, COM-417: Lecture 4.3

25.05.2020, 08:53

Characteristic function

APA_lecture12a_partII

17.05.2023, 16:23

30, COM-417: Lecture 9.3

25.05.2020, 09:23

Proof of the CLT using characteristic functions

APA recordings (2023)

19.04.2023, 16:28

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

47, COM-417: Lecture 14.1a

24.01.2021, 22:04

Generalization of the MCT to sub- and supermartingales (part a)

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

APA_lecture10b_partII

04.05.2023, 10:37

19, COM-417: Lecture 6.3

25.05.2020, 09:03

Almost sure convergence implies convergence in probability

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

11, COM-417: Lecture 4.1

25.05.2020, 08:52

Expectation of a random variable

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

APA_lecture13a_partII

24.05.2023, 16:21

10, COM-417: Lecture 3.3

25.05.2020, 08:50

Convolution

3, COM-417: Lecture 1.2

25.05.2020, 08:37

Sub-sigma-fields, random variables

APA_lecture10b_partI

04.05.2023, 10:37

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

8, COM-417: Lecture 3.1

25.05.2020, 08:43

Independence of two events, random variables, sigma-fields

One thing I forgot to mention in the video: it is usually more demanding to check that two random variables are independent than to check that they are not:

- To prove that two random variables are not independent, it suffices indeed to find one counter-example, namely two (Borel) sets B_1, B_2 such that P({X_1 in B_1, X_2 in B_2}) is not equal to P({X_1 in B_1}) P({ X_2 in B_2}).

- On the contrary, independence requires that equality holds for all (Borel) sets B_1, B_2. In that sense, it is much more demanding than asking that the two random variables are just uncorrelated (which boils down to checking that a single number Cov(X_1,X_2)=0, as we shall see next week).

24, COM-417: Lecture 8.1

25.05.2020, 09:13

St Petersburg's paradox and extension of the weak law

Sorry, as the beginning of this one is a bit chaotic; also, it is slightly longer than the others... but it is worth the effort, I think!

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

19, COM-417: Lecture 6.3

25.05.2020, 09:03

Almost sure convergence implies convergence in probability

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

17, COM-417: Lecture 6.1

25.05.2020, 09:00

Cauchy-Schwarz, Jensen and Chebyshev inequalities

APA_lecture13b_partI

25.05.2023, 09:59

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

40, COM-417: Lecture 12.2

25.05.2020, 09:38

Sub- and super-martingales, stopping times

41, COM-417: Lecture 12.3

25.05.2020, 09:39

The optional stopping theorem, with a proof

44, COM-417: Lecture 13.2b

25.05.2020, 09:43

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 2)

3, COM-417: Lecture 1.2

25.05.2020, 08:37

Sub-sigma-fields, random variables

13, COM-417: Lecture 4.3

25.05.2020, 08:53

Characteristic function

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

APA_lecture10b_partII

04.05.2023, 10:37

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

41, COM-417: Lecture 12.3

25.05.2020, 09:39

The optional stopping theorem, with a proof

32, COM-417: Lecture 10.1b

25.05.2020, 09:28

The coupon collector problem (part 2)

8, COM-417: Lecture 3.1

25.05.2020, 08:43

Independence of two events, random variables, sigma-fields

One thing I forgot to mention in the video: it is usually more demanding to check that two random variables are independent than to check that they are not:

- To prove that two random variables are not independent, it suffices indeed to find one counter-example, namely two (Borel) sets B_1, B_2 such that P({X_1 in B_1, X_2 in B_2}) is not equal to P({X_1 in B_1}) P({ X_2 in B_2}).

- On the contrary, independence requires that equality holds for all (Borel) sets B_1, B_2. In that sense, it is much more demanding than asking that the two random variables are just uncorrelated (which boils down to checking that a single number Cov(X_1,X_2)=0, as we shall see next week).

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

APA_lecture14b_partII

01.06.2023, 15:27

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

31, COM-417: Lecture 10.1a

25.05.2020, 09:27

The coupon collector problem (part 1)

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

31, COM-417: Lecture 10.1a

25.05.2020, 09:27

The coupon collector problem (part 1)

27, COM-417: Lecture 9.1

25.05.2020, 09:16

The central limit theorem

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

11, COM-417: Lecture 4.1

25.05.2020, 08:52

Expectation of a random variable

39, COM-417: Lecture 12.1

25.05.2020, 09:37

Martingales

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

41, COM-417: Lecture 12.3

25.05.2020, 09:39

The optional stopping theorem, with a proof

APA_lecture13b_partI

25.05.2023, 09:59

32, COM-417: Lecture 10.1b

25.05.2020, 09:28

The coupon collector problem (part 2)

APA_lecture13a_partII

24.05.2023, 16:21

22, COM-417: Lecture 7.2 bis

25.05.2020, 09:09

A remark about the proof of the LLN

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

26, COM-417: Lecture 8.3

25.05.2020, 09:15

The Curie-Weiss model

2, COM-417: Lecture 1.1

25.05.2020, 08:35

Sigma-fields, sigma-field generated by a collection of events

Here is a small extra comment regarding the definition of a sigma-field:

From the third axiom regarding countable unions of sets, you can deduce directly that finite unions should also be part of the sigma-field by considering a countable sequence of sets where you replace each A_m by an empty set when m > n; in this case, U_{m>=1} A_m = A_1 U ... U A_n 

APA_lecture12a_partII

17.05.2023, 16:23

COM-417 Advanced Probability and Applications

15.04.2023, 13:27

24, COM-417: Lecture 8.1

25.05.2020, 09:13

St Petersburg's paradox and extension of the weak law

Sorry, as the beginning of this one is a bit chaotic; also, it is slightly longer than the others... but it is worth the effort, I think!

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

46, COM-417: Lecture 13.3

25.05.2020, 09:44

The martingale convergence theorem (version 2)

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

32, COM-417: Lecture 10.1b

25.05.2020, 09:28

The coupon collector problem (part 2)

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

APA_lecture10b_partII

04.05.2023, 10:37

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

APA recordings (2023)

19.04.2023, 16:28

COM-417 Advanced Probability and Applications

15.04.2023, 13:27

1, COM-417: Introduction and notations

25.05.2020, 08:36

2, COM-417: Lecture 1.1

25.05.2020, 08:35

Sigma-fields, sigma-field generated by a collection of events

Here is a small extra comment regarding the definition of a sigma-field:

From the third axiom regarding countable unions of sets, you can deduce directly that finite unions should also be part of the sigma-field by considering a countable sequence of sets where you replace each A_m by an empty set when m > n; in this case, U_{m>=1} A_m = A_1 U ... U A_n 

3, COM-417: Lecture 1.2

25.05.2020, 08:37

Sub-sigma-fields, random variables

4, COM-417: Lecture 1.3

25.05.2020, 08:38

Sigma-field generated by a collection of random variables

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

7, COM-417: Lecture 2.3

25.05.2020, 08:41

The Devil's staircase

6, COM-417: Lecture 2.2

25.05.2020, 08:40

Distribution of a random variable

8, COM-417: Lecture 3.1

25.05.2020, 08:43

Independence of two events, random variables, sigma-fields

One thing I forgot to mention in the video: it is usually more demanding to check that two random variables are independent than to check that they are not:

- To prove that two random variables are not independent, it suffices indeed to find one counter-example, namely two (Borel) sets B_1, B_2 such that P({X_1 in B_1, X_2 in B_2}) is not equal to P({X_1 in B_1}) P({ X_2 in B_2}).

- On the contrary, independence requires that equality holds for all (Borel) sets B_1, B_2. In that sense, it is much more demanding than asking that the two random variables are just uncorrelated (which boils down to checking that a single number Cov(X_1,X_2)=0, as we shall see next week).

9, COM-417: Lecture 3.2

25.05.2020, 08:44

Independence of more sigma-fields

10, COM-417: Lecture 3.3

25.05.2020, 08:50

Convolution

11, COM-417: Lecture 4.1

25.05.2020, 08:52

Expectation of a random variable

12, COM-417: Lecture 4.2

25.05.2020, 08:53

Basic properties of expectation

13, COM-417: Lecture 4.3

25.05.2020, 08:53

Characteristic function

14, COM-417: Lecture 5.1

25.05.2020, 08:55

Random vectors

Watch out three small bugs:

- at the beginning of the video: there is of course nothing new here (this was recorded in March 2020) 

- around 22:50: (X1,X2) is not a continuous random vector, but it is a random vector

- at the end of the video: the last word written should be "vector" and not "variable"

15, COM-417: Lecture 5.2

25.05.2020, 08:55

Gaussian random vectors

16, COM-417: Lecture 5.3

25.05.2020, 08:57

Joint distribution of a Gaussian random vector

17, COM-417: Lecture 6.1

25.05.2020, 09:00

Cauchy-Schwarz, Jensen and Chebyshev inequalities

18, COM-417: Lecture 6.2

25.05.2020, 09:02

Various types of convergence of sequences of random variables

19, COM-417: Lecture 6.3

25.05.2020, 09:03

Almost sure convergence implies convergence in probability

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

21, COM-417: Lecture 7.2

25.05.2020, 09:08

The law(s) of large numbers, along with its proof

23, COM-417: Lecture 7.3

25.05.2020, 09:12

Kolmogorov's 0-1 law

22, COM-417: Lecture 7.2 bis

25.05.2020, 09:09

A remark about the proof of the LLN

24, COM-417: Lecture 8.1

25.05.2020, 09:13

St Petersburg's paradox and extension of the weak law

Sorry, as the beginning of this one is a bit chaotic; also, it is slightly longer than the others... but it is worth the effort, I think!

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

26, COM-417: Lecture 8.3

25.05.2020, 09:15

The Curie-Weiss model

27, COM-417: Lecture 9.1

25.05.2020, 09:16

The central limit theorem

28, COM-417: Lecture 9.2a

25.05.2020, 09:17

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 1)

29, COM-417: Lecture 9.2b

25.05.2020, 09:18

Proof of the CLT via Lindeberg's principle (part 2)

30, COM-417: Lecture 9.3

25.05.2020, 09:23

Proof of the CLT using characteristic functions

31, COM-417: Lecture 10.1a

25.05.2020, 09:27

The coupon collector problem (part 1)

33, COM-417: Lecture 10.2

25.05.2020, 09:30

Moments and Carleman's theorem

Here is a link to the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences mentioned at the end of the above video: oeis.org (@Neil Sloane)

32, COM-417: Lecture 10.1b

25.05.2020, 09:28

The coupon collector problem (part 2)

34, COM-417: Lecture 10.3

25.05.2020, 09:31

Concentration: Hoeffding's inequality

35, COM-417: Lecture 11.1

25.05.2020, 09:32

Concentration: large deviations principle

36, COM-417: Lecture 11.2

25.05.2020, 09:33

Conditional expectation: definition

37, COM-417: Lecture 11.3

25.05.2020, 09:34

Basic properties of conditional expectation

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

39, COM-417: Lecture 12.1

25.05.2020, 09:37

Martingales

40, COM-417: Lecture 12.2

25.05.2020, 09:38

Sub- and super-martingales, stopping times

42, COM-417: Lecture 13.1

25.05.2020, 09:40

The martingale convergence theorem (version 1)

Note: contrary to what is said at the beginning of the video, this is not the last lecture of the semester: there is still one to come (Lecture 14).

41, COM-417: Lecture 12.3

25.05.2020, 09:39

The optional stopping theorem, with a proof

43, COM-417: Lecture 13.2a

25.05.2020, 09:42

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 1)

44, COM-417: Lecture 13.2b

25.05.2020, 09:43

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 2)

45, COM-417: Lecture 13.2c

25.05.2020, 09:43

Proof of the martingale convergence theorem (part 3)

46, COM-417: Lecture 13.3

25.05.2020, 09:44

The martingale convergence theorem (version 2)

47, COM-417: Lecture 14.1a

24.01.2021, 22:04

Generalization of the MCT to sub- and supermartingales (part a)

48, COM-417: Lecture 14.1b

24.01.2021, 22:05

Generalization of the MCT to sub- and supermartingales (part b)

49, COM-417: Lecture 14.2a

25.01.2021, 10:06

Azuma's inequality

50, COM-417: Lecture 14.2b

25.01.2021, 10:07

McMiarmid's inequality

51, COM-417 Complement: Some examples of cdfs

03.03.2021, 20:22

52, COM-417 Complement: Monotone class theorem

14.04.2021, 19:03

53, COM-417 Complement: Convergence in distribution

30.04.2021, 11:33

An interesting counter-example

54, COM-417 Complement: Extra lecture on R0

25.05.2020, 10:00

Extra lecture about branching processes, recorded in April 2020

After recording this, I realized it would perhaps be more appropriate to refer to "R" in this lecture, rather than to "R0": R0 is indeed the "basic reproduction number" of the virus, estimated around 3.5, on which one has no control; while R is its "effective reproduction number", on which our behaviour can have a great influence. 

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

APA recordings (2023)

19.04.2023, 16:28

20, COM-417: Lecture 7.1

25.05.2020, 09:04

The Borel-Cantelli lemma

APA_lecture13a_partII

24.05.2023, 16:21

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

27, COM-417: Lecture 9.1

25.05.2020, 09:16

The central limit theorem

10, COM-417: Lecture 3.3

25.05.2020, 08:50

Convolution

19, COM-417: Lecture 6.3

25.05.2020, 09:03

Almost sure convergence implies convergence in probability

APA_lecture14b_partI

01.06.2023, 15:27

34, COM-417: Lecture 10.3

25.05.2020, 09:31

Concentration: Hoeffding's inequality

5, COM-417: Lecture 2.1

25.05.2020, 08:40

Probability measures

APA_lecture13a_partI

24.05.2023, 16:21

APA_lecture11b_partII

11.05.2023, 10:34

38, COM-417: Lecture 11.3 bis

25.05.2020, 09:36

An extra property of conditional expectation

2, COM-417: Lecture 1.1

25.05.2020, 08:35

Sigma-fields, sigma-field generated by a collection of events

Here is a small extra comment regarding the definition of a sigma-field:

From the third axiom regarding countable unions of sets, you can deduce directly that finite unions should also be part of the sigma-field by considering a countable sequence of sets where you replace each A_m by an empty set when m > n; in this case, U_{m>=1} A_m = A_1 U ... U A_n 

18, COM-417: Lecture 6.2

25.05.2020, 09:02

Various types of convergence of sequences of random variables

APA_lecture11b_partI

11.05.2023, 10:33

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

APA_lecture11b_partII

11.05.2023, 10:34

25, COM-417: Lecture 8.2

25.05.2020, 09:14

Convergence in distribution

16, COM-417: Lecture 5.3

25.05.2020, 08:57

Joint distribution of a Gaussian random vector


This file is part of the content downloaded from Advanced probability and applications.
Course summary

"Probability theory is nothing but common sense reduced to calculation." Pierre-Simon de Laplace, 1812 (see other interesting quotes from Pierre-Simon de Laplace)

Lectures:

  • In-person in the room DIA 004 on Wed 1-4 PM and ELG 120 on Thu 9-12 AM.
  • Thursday lectures will take place only on select weeks. Other weeks Thursdays are reserved for the exercise session. This will be clearly marked each week on Moodle.

Exercise Sessions:

  • In-person in the room ELG 120 on Thu 9-12 PM on select weeks. This will be clearly marked each week on Moodle. 
  • Problem sets will be posted for each unit covered in lecture. You are expected to work on them outside of class and during exercise sessions. Problem sets will not be graded. However, it is important that you do them regularly if you would like to succeed in the course.

Grading Scheme:

  • Midterm exam #1 - 25%
  • Midterm exam #2 - 25% 
  • Final exam - 50%

Midterm Exam #1: Wednesday, October 8, 1:15pm - 4pm, room DIA 004 and AAC 0 08.

  •  Allowed material: one cheat sheet (i.e., two single-sided A4 handwritten pages).

Midterm Exam #2: Wednesday, November 26, 1:15pm - 4pm, AAC 2 31.

  •  Allowed material: two cheat sheets (i.e., four single-sided A4 handwritten pages). You may re-use the cheatsheet from midterm 1, and create a new additional page. Or, create two pages from scratch.


Final Exam: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 9:15am - 12:15pm, room CM 1 121.

  • Allowed material: two cheat sheets (i.e., four single-sided A4 handwritten pages).
  • Please note that the exam content will focus more on the part of the course not covered on the midterms, but will also cover material already covered by the midterms.

Course Instructor:

Prof. Yanina Shkel
 || INR 131 || yanina.shkel@epfl.ch

Teaching and Student Assistants:

Cemre Çadir || INR 031 || cemre.cadir@epfl.ch
Anas Himmi || anas.himmi@epfl.ch
Pierre Fasterling || pierre.fasterling@epfl.ch

Course Webpage:


References:

  • Terence Tao, An Introduction to Measure Theory, Preprint, Softcover ISBN: 978-1-4704-6640-4
  • Sheldon M. Ross, Erol A. Pekoz, A Second Course in Probability, 1st edition, 2007.
  • Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, A First Look at Rigorous Probability Theory, 2nd edition, World Scientific, 2006.
  • Geoffrey R. Grimmett, David R. Stirzaker, Probability and Random Processes, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 2001.
  • Sheldon M. Ross, Stochastic Processes, 2nd edition, Wiley, 1996.
  • William Feller, An Introduction to Probability Theory and Its Applications, Vol. 1&2, Wiley, 1950.
  • (more advanced) Richard Durrett, Probability: Theory and Examples, 4th edition, Cambridge University Press, 2010.
  • (more advanced) Patrick Billingsley, Probability and Measure, 3rd edition, Wiley, 1995.


Mediaspace channel for the course (please note that these videos were made for a previous version of the course taught by Olivier Lévêque: there will be some differences with this year's version)

Recordings of live lectures (from 2023, Olivier Lévêque)


Week 1 (September 10-11)

Wed (lecture): Sigma-fields and random variables (chapter 1); probability measures (section 2.1)
Thu (lecture): Probability measures and distributions (section 2.1-2.5)

Corresponding Videos 


Week 2 (September 17-18)

Wed (lecture): Cantor set and the devil's staircase (section 2.5); independence (section 3.1-3.5)
Thu (exercises): Problem sets 1 and 2; 

Corresponding Videos 



Week 3 (September 24-25)

Wed (lecture): expectation (chapter 4)

Thu (exercises): Problem sets 3 and 4

Corresponding Videos 



Week 4 (October 1-2)

Wed (lecture): Probability couplings (chapter 5)
Thu (exercises): Review problem sets 1-4, problem set 5

No Corresponding Videos - see lecture notes 



Week 5 (October 8-9) MIDTERM #1

Wed (lecture): Midterm exam #1

Thu (exercises): Review of midterm exam #1

Midterm Exam #1 Statistics: (over 50)
Mean: 31.34
Median: 32
Min / Max: 8 / 48.5


Week 6 (October 15-16)

Wed (lecture): Probability couplings (chapter 5); inequalities (chapter 6);

Thu (lecture) Inequalities (chapter 6); transform methods (chapter 7);  

Corresponding Videos 




Just for fun: holiday quiz


Week 7 (October 29-30)

Wed (lecture): Moments; random vectors , Gaussian random vectors (sections 8.1-8.3);

Thu (exercises): Work on problem sets 5, 6, and 7 

Corresponding Videos 



Week 8 (November 5-6)

Wed (lecture): Gaussian random vectors (section 8.3); laws of large numbers (sections 9.1-9.4);  

Thu (lecture): Laws of large numbers - weak and strong, proof (sections 9.4-9.6); Kolmogorov's 0-1 law


Corresponding Videos 



Week 9 (November 12-13)

Wed (lecture): St-Petersburg paradox (section 9.8); Convergence in distribution, CLT (section 10.1, 1.3 - 10.5); Application: coupon collector problem; 

Thu (exercises): Work on problem sets 8 and 9 


Corresponding Videos 


Note : In chapter 10 we will NOT cover the Curie-Weiss model (section 10.2) and the Lindeberg’s principle (part of section 10.4).  


Week 10 (November 19-20)

Wed (lecture): Coupon collector problem (section 10.6), Conditional expectation (chapter 11)

Thu (exercises): Work on problem sets 10 and 11

Corresponding Videos 



Week 11 (November 26-27) MIDTERM #2

Wed (lecture): Midterm exam #2

Thu (lecture): Conditional expectation (chapter 11); Martingales (chapter 12)

Midterm #2 covers the material up to chapter 10 and problem set 10. In particular, conditional expectation and problem set 11 will NOT be on the second midterm

Midterm Exam #2 Statistics: (over 50)
Mean: 31
Median: 31
Min / Max: 4.5 / 45

Corresponding Videos 



Week 12 (December 3-4)

Wed (lecture): Martingales (chapter 12); Martingale convergence theorems (chapter 13)

Thu (exercises): Midterm #2 review

We will NOT cover section 12.4, The reflection principle.

Corresponding Videos 



Week 13 (December 10-11)

Wed (lecture): Martingale convergence theorems (13); Concentration inequalities (chapter 14)

Thu (exercises): Work on problem sets 11 and 12

Corresponding Videos 


Week 14 (December 17-18)

Wed (lecture): Concentration inequalities (chapter 14)

Thu (exercises): Work on problem sets 13 and 14

Corresponding Videos