How to Get Started with Applied Stochastic Differential Equations

Jan 12, 2022 | Data Science

Are you keen on exploring the fascinating world of Stochastic Differential Equations (SDEs)? The book *Applied Stochastic Differential Equations* by Simo Särkkä and Arno Solin offers an accessible introduction to this complex topic, aligning well for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in various fields including applied mathematics, signal processing, control engineering, statistics, and computer science. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through using the resources provided in this book to work on practical examples, alongside troubleshooting tips.

Understanding the Concepts Using Analogies

To grasp the essence of Stochastic Differential Equations, think of them as navigating a river full of twists and turns (the stochastic processes) while trying to reach your destination (solving a problem). Just as you need to balance the steering and the currents of the river, SDEs combine the deterministic elements (like ordinary differential equations) with randomness, requiring you to adapt and navigate through uncertainty.

In the context of this book, each chapter represents a section of the river that provides insights into different aspects of SDEs through worked examples and numerical simulations. The MATLAB source code that accompanies these examples serves as your navigational tool, ensuring you remain on course as you replicate results and deepen your understanding.

How to Run Examples Using MATLAB

Ready to dive in? Here’s how to get started with the provided MATLAB codes:

  • Ensure you have MATLAB or GNU Octave: The codes have been tested on Mathworks MATLAB R2018b and GNU Octave 4.4.
  • Locate the Code Files: The codes are organized by chapter. For instance, to practice the numerical solution of ODEs, you’ll use:
    ch02_ex09_numerical_solution_of_odes.m
  • Run the Code: Simply open the relevant code file in MATLAB or GNU Octave and run it to reproduce the results as shown in the book.

Examples You Can Explore

To give you an example, here are some experiment files you can run:

  • Chapter 3: Two views of Brownian motion
    ch03_fig02_two_views_of_brownian_motion.m
  • Chapter 4: Brownian motion
    ch04_fig01_brownian_motion.m
  • Chapter 10: UFIL and smoothing
    ch10_ex19_ou_filtering_smoothing.m

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter any issues while running the codes, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

  • Ensure Compatibility: Double-check that you are using the correct version of MATLAB or GNU Octave.
  • Check for File Location: Ensure that the code files are in your current working directory in MATLAB.
  • Review the Code: If you’re porting the code to another programming language, ensure you understand the algorithms and data structures used.

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Conclusion

By exploring the hands-on examples provided in the book *Applied Stochastic Differential Equations*, you can enhance your grasp of stochastic processes and their applications in various fields. Each experiment acts as a stepping stone in your journey to mastering SDEs, guided by rigorous mathematical insights and practical coding experience. At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.

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