English

Odds-Theorem and Monotonicity

Probability 2019-05-15 v1

Abstract

Given a finite sequence of events and a well-defined notion of events being interesting, the Odds-theorem (Bruss (2000)) gives an online strategy to stop on the last interesting event. It is optimal for independent events. Here we study questions in how far optimal win probabilities mirror monotonicity properties of the underlying sequence of probabilities of events. We make these questions precise, motivate them, and then give complete answers. This note, concentrating on the original Odds-theorem, is elementary, and the answers are hoped to be of interest. We include several applications.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1905.05611,
  title  = {Odds-Theorem and Monotonicity},
  author = {F. Thomas Bruss},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1905.05611},
  year   = {2019}
}

Comments

13 pages, no figures

R2 v1 2026-06-23T09:06:04.687Z