Jeffreys prior for a scale parameter 2026-10-07
For a differentiable scale family with finite positive Fisher information, the score is . Its squared expectation is a constant times , yielding the displayed Jeffreys prior. This is an improper prior on the entire positive half-line.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2013 iii Paper 34 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
For the scale family, substitute in the expectation:This depends on but not on . It holds whenever the expectation exists, including an extended expectation for nonnegative ; an undefined difference of two infinite integrals is not an expectation.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2013 iii Paper 34 2 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-07
Assume the scale family has the differentiability needed for Fisher information, and the following constant is finite and positive. With , the score function isPart (b) therefore giveswhere is independent of . The Jeffreys prior for a scale parameter is consequentlyThe reciprocal-of-a-reciprocal in the TeX is a transcription error; the PDF has . The expected-Hessian information identity should not be applied indiscriminately to nonregular parameter-dependent supports.