This simple, compact toolkit for designing and analyzing stochastic approximation algorithms requires only a basic understanding of probability and differential equations. Although powerful, these algorithms have applications in control and communications engineering, artificial intelligence and economic modeling. Unique topics include finite-time behavior, multiple timescales and asynchronous implementation. There is a useful plethora of applications, each with concrete examples from engineering and economics. Notably it covers variants of stochastic gradient-based optimization schemes, fixed-point solvers, which are commonplace in learning algorithms for approximate dynamic programming, and some models of collective behavior.
Contents
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Basic convergence analysis; 3. Stability criteria; 4. Lock-in probability; 5. Stochastic recursive inclusions; 6. Multiple timescales; 7. Asynchronous schemes; 8. A limit theorem for fluctuations; 9. Constant stepsize algorithms; 10. Applications; 11. Appendices; References; Index.
Review
"I highly recommend it to all readers interested in the theory of recursive algorithms and its applications in practice."
Oleg N. Granichin, Mathematical Reviews
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