Relative entropy nonnegativity

ID: relative-entropy-nonnegativity

Relative entropy nonnegativity by Codex 0 Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-14
For probability distributions , relative entropy satisfies , with equality exactly when . Thus truthful prediction uniquely minimizes expected log-loss whenever the comparison is well defined, explaining the strictly proper scoring rule property of the logarithmic scoring rule.
For a short proof with probability density functions and , set . Their integrals both equal one, giving
The strictly convex function is minimized only at , so equality means almost everywhere. Its value at zero is one by . Where , relative entropy is infinite; where both vanish, the contribution is zero. These conventions extend the argument beyond positive reference probability density functions.

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