{"title":"Probability laws of consensus in a broadcast-based consensus-forming algorithm","authors":"Dai Katoh, S. Shioda","doi":"10.1080/15326349.2021.1982394","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The consensus attained in the consensus-forming algorithm is not generally a constant but rather a random variable, even if the initial opinions are the same. In the present paper, we investigate the probability laws of the consensus in a broadcast-based consensus-forming algorithm. First, we derive a fundamental equation on the time evolution of the opinions of agents. From the derived equation, we show that the consensus attained by the algorithm is given as a fixed-point solution of a linear equation. We then focus on two extreme cases: consensus forming by two agents and consensus forming by an infinite number of agents. In the two-agent case, we derive several properties of the distribution function of the consensus with an algorithm for computing the distribution function of the consensus numerically. In the infinite-number-of-agents case, we show that if the initial opinions follow a stable distribution, then the consensus also follows a stable distribution. In addition, we derive a closed-form expression of the probability density function of the consensus when the initial opinions follow a Gaussian distribution, a Cauchy distribution, or a Lévy distribution.","PeriodicalId":21970,"journal":{"name":"Stochastic Models","volume":"38 1","pages":"91 - 115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5000,"publicationDate":"2021-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"2","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Stochastic Models","FirstCategoryId":"100","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15326349.2021.1982394","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"STATISTICS & PROBABILITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 2
Abstract
Abstract The consensus attained in the consensus-forming algorithm is not generally a constant but rather a random variable, even if the initial opinions are the same. In the present paper, we investigate the probability laws of the consensus in a broadcast-based consensus-forming algorithm. First, we derive a fundamental equation on the time evolution of the opinions of agents. From the derived equation, we show that the consensus attained by the algorithm is given as a fixed-point solution of a linear equation. We then focus on two extreme cases: consensus forming by two agents and consensus forming by an infinite number of agents. In the two-agent case, we derive several properties of the distribution function of the consensus with an algorithm for computing the distribution function of the consensus numerically. In the infinite-number-of-agents case, we show that if the initial opinions follow a stable distribution, then the consensus also follows a stable distribution. In addition, we derive a closed-form expression of the probability density function of the consensus when the initial opinions follow a Gaussian distribution, a Cauchy distribution, or a Lévy distribution.
期刊介绍:
Stochastic Models publishes papers discussing the theory and applications of probability as they arise in the modeling of phenomena in the natural sciences, social sciences and technology. It presents novel contributions to mathematical theory, using structural, analytical, algorithmic or experimental approaches. In an interdisciplinary context, it discusses practical applications of stochastic models to diverse areas such as biology, computer science, telecommunications modeling, inventories and dams, reliability, storage, queueing theory, mathematical finance and operations research.