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Actually, if I recall correctly after only 5 years, your first sentence is correct. It doesn't matter how many symbols your alphabet has (i.e. base system used
by hervature 8y ago
Actually, if I recall correctly after only 5 years, your first sentence is correct. It doesn't matter how many symbols your alphabet has (i.e. base system used in application) because they can all be represented using binary. I don't recall anything about "optimum discernment" just that it is convenient to standardize proofs using a binary alphabet. For example, Huffman coding is proved using binary but it easily applies to ternary systems as well.
- JoeAltmaier 8y agoYeah it had to do with Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) being best at 2 symbols I think.
- neurocline 8y agoApparently the optimum information-theoretic alphabet would have e (2.718...) bits, but it's a little awkward to work with a transcendental base. The pain in working with trinary circuits is why we use binary instead.
- DoctorOetker 8y ago>The optimum discernment was at 2 values (1 and 0) I think this "optimum discernment" at base 2 you remember is nonsense? could you provide a pointer?