4 ms·
It's possible that I misunderstood the text but what's the alternative interpretation of "The log function asymptotes at 0"? Also note that the text says log pr
by tmalsburg2 6y ago
It's possible that I misunderstood the text but what's the alternative interpretation of "The log function asymptotes at 0"? Also note that the text says log probabilities when it actually refers to log densities.
- kgwgk 6y agoWhen x goes to minus infinity log(x) approaches zero.
- tmalsburg2 6y agoNo, the logarithm is only defined for positive values. Plus probability densities are strictly non-negative. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logarithm https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logarithm
- kgwgk 6y agoYou're absolutely right! I meant it the other way around: As x approaches 0, log(x) goes to minus infinity. I think that's what he means (the next sentence about "visualiz[ing] very small values of a function by expanding their range" makes sense in that context), but I agree it is not very clear.
- moultano 6y agoThe log function has a vertical asymptote as x approaches 0.
- tmalsburg2 6y agoAh, that's likely the interpretation that the author had in mind. But it didn't help that he wrote log probability when he actually talked about log probability density.
- kgwgk 6y agoIf the author himself tells you so, it’s more than likely. :-)