Markoff process
- noun
- /ˈmɑrkɒf ˈproʊsɛs/
- Specialized
:
proceso de Markoff
- The basic assumption of the Markoff process is that history does not affect future states beyond the current one.
Examples
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The random movement of particles in a fluid can often be modeled as a Markoff process.
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In the study of queues, analysts frequently use the properties of a Markoff process.
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A Markoff process is often used in statistical modeling.
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Researchers study various Markoff processes in their work.
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In the study of queues, analysts frequently use the properties of a Markoff process.
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The basic assumption of the Markoff process is that history does not affect future states beyond the current one.
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The random movement of particles in a fluid can often be modeled as a Markoff process.
Synonyms
A process where the next state depends only on the current one
A system where each next step depends only on the current step
Surface Forms
Morphology
Markoff + process
This is an eponymous technical term: 'Markoff' (a proper name) adds no semantic content that a B1 learner can use to infer the specific probabilistic property, while 'process' only signals a sequence of changes. The specialized meaning (memoryless stochastic dependence on the current state) is domain-specific and not derivable from the constituents, so it would be opaque to a learner who only knows the component words.
Etymology
Markoff process is named after the Russian mathematician Andrey Markov. It describes a system that 'does not remember the past': the next state depends only on the present, like a person who makes each choice by looking only at what is happening now, so the past does not matter.
