A Limit Theorem for Sums of Minima of Stochastic Variables

Abstract

We consider a sequence of independent and identically distributed positive stochastic variables $x_1, x_2, x_3, \cdots$ with the distribution function $F(x)$. Let $y_n$ be the smallest of the values taken by the $n$ first of these variables and $S_n = y_1 + y_2 + \cdots + y_n$. It is then shown that $S_n/\log n$ tends in probability to the value $F = \lim_{t\downarrow 0} t/F(t)$ assumed to exist as a finite or infinite number.