Renewal theory is the branch of probability theory that generalizes Poisson processes for arbitrary holding times. Applications include calculating the expected time for a monkey who is randomly tapping at a keyboard to type the word Macbeth and comparing the long-term benefits of different insurance policies.
Read more about Renewal Theory: Renewal-reward Processes
Famous quotes containing the words renewal and/or theory:
“There must be no cessation
Of motion, or of the noise of motion,
The renewal of noise
And manifold continuation....”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“There never comes a point where a theory can be said to be true. The most that one can claim for any theory is that it has shared the successes of all its rivals and that it has passed at least one test which they have failed.”
—A.J. (Alfred Jules)