conditional entropy


Definition (Discrete)

Let (Ω,,μ) be a discrete probability spaceMathworldPlanetmath, and let X and Y be discrete random variables on Ω.

The conditional entropy H[X|Y], read as “the conditional entropy of X given Y,” is defined as

H[X|Y]=-xXyYμ(X=x,Y=y)logμ(X=x|Y=y) (1)

where μ(X|Y) denotes the conditional probabilityMathworldPlanetmath. μ(Y=y) is nonzero in the discrete case

Discussion

The results for discrete conditional entropy will be assumed to hold for the continuousPlanetmathPlanetmath case unless we indicate otherwise.

With H[X,Y] the joint entropy and f a function, we have the following results:

H[X|Y]+H[Y] =H[X,Y] (2)
H[X|Y] H[X]    (conditioning reduces entropy) (3)
H[X|Y] H[X]+H[Y]    (equality iff X,Y independent) (4)
H[X|Y] H[X|f(Y)] (5)
H[X|Y] =0X=f(Y)    (special case H[X|X]=0) (6)

The conditional entropy H[X|Y] may be interpreted as the uncertainty in X given knowledge of Y. (Try reading the above equalities and inequalities with this interpretationMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath in mind.)

Title conditional entropy
Canonical name ConditionalEntropy
Date of creation 2013-03-22 12:25:16
Last modified on 2013-03-22 12:25:16
Owner PrimeFan (13766)
Last modified by PrimeFan (13766)
Numerical id 9
Author PrimeFan (13766)
Entry type Definition
Classification msc 94A17
Related topic Entropy
Related topic RelativeEntropy
Related topic ConditionalProbability
Related topic DifferentialEntropy
Related topic ShannonsTheoremEntropy