Information Content

From ExoDictionary
Revision as of 16:00, 30 April 2007 by Autostub3 (Talk)

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
This definition page has been automatically generated.
You can help ExoDictionary by expanding, updating, or correcting it.


This autostub has not yet had its initial copyediting proof and may contain significant formatting and even factual errors. You can improve Exodictionary by cleaning up the page markup and verifying that the definition is correct and then removing this tag.


This autostub has not yet had its initial categorization proof and may be categorized incorrectly. You can improve Exodictionary by removing inappropriate categories and then removing this tag.


Information Content

</dt>
In a message or a signal from a source, the negative of the logarithm of the probability that this particular message or symbol will be emitted from the source. </dd>
The choice of logarithmic base determines the unit of information content. See bit and hartley. The probability of a given message or symbol being emitted may depend on one or more preceding messages or symbols. The quantity has been called self-information. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use