matlab没有算出来数显示inf,计算对数似然（MATLAB）时避免使用-inf

When using MATLAB to calculate

Log_likelihood=log((1/1e8)*exp(-0.5*SSR)),

if SSR (i.e. standard squared error) is large (e.g. SSR=1e4) then the exp() becomes zero and the Log_likelihood becomes -inf.

Is there any numerical/mathematical trick that can handle this problem?

Thank You

解决方案

Assuming your log is a natural logarithm:

log(a*exp(b)) = log(a) + log(exp(b)) = log(a) + b.

Where a=(1/1e8), b = -0.5*SSR

Moreover, log(1/1e8) = log(1) - log(1e8), so the above turns to be -log(1e8) + b, while the first term is a constant and can be precalculated.