Abstract

Generalizations of prophet inequalities for single sequences are obtained for optimal stopping of several parallel sequences of independent random variables. For example, if {Xi, j, 1 ≤ i ≤ n, 1 ≤ j < ∞} are independent non-negative random variables, then E(sup Xi,j) ≤ (n + 1) max sup {E(Xi,t): t is a stop rule for Xi,1, Xi,2, ...} and this bound is best possible. Applications are made to comparisons of the optimal expected returns of various alternative methods of stopping of parallel processes.

Disciplines

Mathematics

Included in

Mathematics Commons

COinS
 

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/rgp_rsr/43