| − | '''Ergodic Theory''' is the [[mathematical]] theory of well-behaved [[random]]ness. The [[random variable]]s can occur [[discrete]]ly or [[continuous]]ly, but the total [[probability]] over the time period is always 1 (so by the end of the time period, the [[random event]] will surely have occured. The [[probability distribution]] takes extreme values over the class of shift invariant processes. | + | '''Ergodic Theory''' is the [[mathematical]] theory of well-behaved [[random]]ness. The [[random variable]]s can occur [[discrete]]ly or [[continuous]]ly, but the total [[probability]] over the time period is always 1 (so by the end of the time period, the [[random event]] will surely have occurred. The [[probability distribution]] takes extreme values over the class of shift invariant processes. |
| − | The first serious study of ergodic theory was performed by [[Ludwig Boltzmann]], who also coined the term. His thesis was to justify the use of [[equilibria]] to study [[mechanic]]s in a probabilistic model. [[John von Neumann]] and [[George David Birkhoff]] are other seminal contributors to the field. | + | The first serious study of ergodic theory was performed by [[Ludwig Boltzmann]], who also coined the term. His thesis was to justify the use of [[equilibria]] to study [[mechanics]] in a probabilistic model. [[John von Neumann]] and [[George David Birkhoff]] are other seminal contributors to the field. |