Relative entropy
For finite distributions p,q, D(p‖q)=Σx p(x)log₂[p(x)/q(x)]≥0, with equality exactly when p=q.
Key knowledge
For finite distributions p,q, D(p‖q)=Σx p(x)log₂[p(x)/q(x)]≥0, with equality exactly when p=q. It is asymmetric; positive p at a zero q gives infinite divergence.
Conditions and scope
- A term with p=0 contributes zero by limit.
- Divergence is not a distance metric.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Lecture 2 Definition 4 and relative-entropy nonnegativity.
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial review: All241 compact claims, hypotheses, displayed equations/conventions and all596 origin semantic links read; entire241-entry author exact-source inspection matrix and declared limitations reviewed. Prior105 actual inherited Mathematics/Information records read for whole-inventory breadth. Targeted independent primary sections are listed below; this does NOT claim every cited source body or every proof was independently re-read. This is AI reference-content review, not human disciplinary certification, exhaustive textbook reproduction or experimental replication. Receipt: mathematics-information-independent-content-review.1.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- info-relative-entropy
- Revision
- university-core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion