Mathematical Theory
The use of the term stochastic to mean based on the theory of probability has been traced back to Ladislaus Bortkiewicz (1868-1931). Bortkiewicz used it in the sense of making conjectures that the Greek term has borne since the days of the ancient philosophers, and after the title of "Ars Conjectandi" that Jakob Bernoulli gave to his work (published in 1713) on probability theory.
In mathematics, specifically in probability theory, the field of stochastic processes has been a major area of research.
A stochastic matrix is a matrix that has non-negative real entries that sum to one in each column.
Read more about this topic: Stochastic
Famous quotes containing the words mathematical and/or theory:
“The circumstances of human society are too complicated to be submitted to the rigour of mathematical calculation.”
—Marquis De Custine (1790–1857)
“Thus the theory of description matters most.
It is the theory of the word for those
For whom the word is the making of the world,
The buzzing world and lisping firmament.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)