# Kolmogorov-Chapman equation

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2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 60J35 [MSN][ZBL]

An equation of the form

$$P ( s , x ; u , \Gamma ) = \ \int\limits _ { E } P ( s , x ; t , d y ) P ( t , y ; u , \Gamma ) ,\ \ s < t < u ,$$

that is, a condition imposed on the transition function $P ( s , x ; t , \Gamma )$( $0 \leq s \leq t < \infty$, $x \in E$, $\Gamma \in \mathfrak B$, $( E , \mathfrak B )$ being a measurable space), enabling one (under certain conditions on $( E , \mathfrak B )$) to construct a Markov process for which the conditional probability ${\mathsf P} _ {s,x} ( x _ {t} \in \Gamma )$ is the same as $P ( s , x ; t , \Gamma )$. Conversely, for a Markov process its transition function $P ( s , x ; t , \Gamma )$, which by definition is equal to ${\mathsf P} _ {s,x} ( x _ {t} \in \Gamma )$, satisfies the Kolmogorov–Chapman equation, as follows immediately from general properties of conditional probabilities. This was pointed out by S. Chapman [C] and investigated by A.N. Kolmogorov in 1931 (see [K]).

#### References

 [C] S. Chapman, "?", Proc. Roy. Soc. Ser. A , 119 (1928) pp. 34–54 [K] A. Kolmogoroff, "Ueber die analytischen Methoden in der Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung" Math. Ann. , 104 (1931) pp. 415–458 [GS] I.I. Gihman, A.V. Skorohod, "The theory of stochastic processes" , 2 , Springer (1975) (Translated from Russian)

#### Comments

In Western literature this equation is usually referred to as the Chapman–Kolmogorov equation.

See also (the editorial comments to) Einstein–Smoluchowski equation.

#### References

 [L] P. Lévy, "Processus stochastiques et mouvement Brownien", Gauthier-Villars (1965) [D] E.B. Dynkin, "Markov processes", 1, Springer (1965) pp. Sect. 5.26 (Translated from Russian) [F] W. Feller, "An introduction to probability theory and its applications", 1, Wiley (1966) pp. Chapt. XV.13
How to Cite This Entry:
Kolmogorov–Chapman equation. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Kolmogorov%E2%80%93Chapman_equation&oldid=22656