IB Maths AI HL 5.9 Further differentiation Question Bank

Practise IB Mathematics HL 5.9 by applying further differentiation methods to exam-style questions.

Exam points

identify the mathematical structure, variable or representation
select and apply the correct theorem, formula or algorithm
check the result using units, domain, graph or logical reasoning

[Maximum number: 3]

This question is about applying ideas from logarithms, calculus and probability to an unfamiliar mathematical theory called information theory.
Claude Shannon developed a mathematical theory called information theory to measure the information gained when random events occur. He defined the information, I, that is gained when an event with probability p occurs as

I=-\ln p

where $0<p \leq 1$ . For example, no information is gained ( I=0 ) when an event is certain to $\operatorname{occur}(p=1)$ .

Show, using calculus, that I is a decreasing function of p.

$\frac{\mathrm{d} I}{\mathrm{~d} p}=-\frac{1}{p}$

Note: Award A1 for $\frac{\mathrm{d} I}{\mathrm{~d} p}$ or equivalent (e.g. $I^{\prime}$ ) and A1 for $-\frac{1}{p}$ . Do not accept $\frac{\mathrm{d} y}{\mathrm{~d} x}$ for the first A1 unless followed by $-\frac{1}{x}$ , which can earn A1 A0.
(for $0<p \leq 1$ ) we therefore have $\frac{\mathrm{d} I}{\mathrm{~d} p}<0$
hence the function is decreasing

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AHL 5.9 (HL)—Further differentiation question 1