Mathematics for AI and Machine Learning

Foundations for modern AI and machine learning

Euler-Maruyama Scheme

Chapter 19 Dynamics & diffusion

Chapter 19: Stochastic Differential Equations — Euler-Maruyama Discretization (also appears in Ch. 18)

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Euler-Maruyama Scheme — animated GIF preview
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Euler-Maruyama Scheme — high-resolution mind-map icon

From the book

Chapter 19: Stochastic Differential Equations. In the chapter mind map this icon labels Euler-Maruyama Discretization. The discussion below is excerpted and lightly edited from § Euler-Maruyama Discretization in Mathematics for AI and Machine Learning. Related material also appears in Chapter 18 (Disc: Euler-Maruyama Scheme).

The Euler–Maruyama scheme is the simplest numerical method for solving SDEs. It discretizes the SDE:

where $\Delta t$ is the time step and $\boldsymbol\epsilon_k$ are independent Gaussian random variables.

Key features:

  • The drift term $\mathbf{f}(\mathbf{X}_k, t_k) \Delta t$ is evaluated at the current state
  • The diffusion term uses $\sqrt{\Delta t}$ because $dW_t \sim \mathcal{N}(0, dt)$
  • This is exactly what we implemented in the matrix chapter for Langevin dynamics

What this drawing shows

What you see. Gray Brownian reference and dashed mean fixed; blue Euler--Maruyama iterates along the same path with red stochastic increments step by step.

In the mind map. Chapter 19 — Euler-Maruyama Discretization. See From the book above for definitions, figures, and worked examples.

Also appears in Ch. 18 (Disc: Euler-Maruyama Scheme).

Where to read next

Open Chapter 19 companion →

Read the full definitions, figures, and worked examples in Chapter 19: Stochastic Differential Equations — see the mind-map node Euler-Maruyama Discretization.

This concept is also referenced in Chapter 18 (Disc: Euler-Maruyama Scheme).