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A simple function $h$ (or random staircase function) is defined as

$$ h(t) = \sum_0^{n} \xi_i I_{(t_i,t_{i+1}]}(t) $$

where $0<t_1< \ldots < t_{n+1}<T$ and the $\xi_i$ are random variables.

Now the stochastic integral of the simple function $h$ is

$$\int_0^Th(t) dW_t := \sum_0^n\xi_i (W_{t_{i+1}} - W_{t_i})$$.

Questions:

  • For the classic rieman integral each summand has constant width $\Delta x$ in the picture: enter image description here
    Can I think of the term $(W_{t_{i+1}} - W_{t_i})$ as beeing the same as the $\Delta x$, but different for each interval $(t_i, t_{i+1}]$ since Brownian Motion does not move a unit-speed like the variable x does?

Edit: One of the questions has an answer here.

  • The stochastic integral results in a new random process, but the sum combines all the random variables. Why isn't the result a single random value?

Edit2: removed stupid second question.

Beginner
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  • yes. 2. you have defined the integral in the left hand side. 3. the integral is a single random variable.
  • – Math-fun Jun 07 '16 at 08:23
  • What are $W_t$ and $W_i$ ? How do they differ from $t$ and $t_i$ ? –  Jun 07 '16 at 08:52
  • @YvesDaoust fixed, thanks! – Beginner Jun 07 '16 at 09:41