Starting with a wave function psi of a form that automatically extremi
zes Shannon's information measure according to Jaynes' maximum entropy
principle (MEP), we show how, with the help of Frieden and Soffer's p
rinciple of extremal information (EPI), one can devise a potential V(x
) that, if taken as a constraint in extremizing the Frieden-Soffer act
ion, transforms psi, into an exact solution of Schrodinger's equation
for V(x). The concomitant procedure illustrates the connection between
two apparently disparate physical principles (MEP and EPI). (C) 1997
Elsevier Science B.V.