An improved fuzzy time series forecasting method using trapezoidal fuzzy numbers

One of the major drawbacks of the existing fuzzy time series forecasting models is the fact that they only provide a single-point forecasted value just like the output of the traditional time series methods. Hence, they cannot provide a decision analyst more useful information. The aim of this present research is to design an improved fuzzy time series forecasting method in which the forecasted value will be a trapezoidal fuzzy number instead of a single-point value. Furthermore, the proposed method may also increase the forecasting accuracy. Two numerical data sets were used to illustrate the proposed method and compare the forecasting accuracy with three fuzzy time series methods. The results of the comparison indicate that the proposed method can generate forecasting values that are more accurate.     

Possibility linear programming with trapezoidal fuzzy numbers

Fuzzy linear programming with trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TrFNs) is considered and a new method is developed to solve it. In this method, TrFNs are used to capture imprecise or uncertain information for the imprecise objective coefficients and/or the imprecise technological coefficients and/or available resources. The auxiliary multi-objective programming is constructed to solve the corresponding possibility linear programming with TrFNs. The auxiliary multi-objective programming involves four objectives: minimizing the left spread, maximizing the right spread, maximizing the left endpoint of the mode and maximizing the middle point of the mode. Three approaches are proposed to solve the constructed auxiliary multi-objective programming, including optimistic approach, pessimistic approach and linear sum approach based on membership function. An investment example and a transportation problem are presented to demonstrate the implementation process of this method. The comparison analysis shows that the fuzzy linear programming with TrFNs developed in this paper generalizes the possibility linear programming with triangular fuzzy numbers.     

梯形模糊数直觉模糊Bonferroni平均算子及其应用

本文研究决策信息为梯形模糊数直觉模糊数(TFNIFN)且属性间存在相互关联的多属性群决策(MAGDM)问题,提出一种基于梯形模糊数直觉模糊加权Bonferroni平均(TFNIFWBM)算子的决策方法.首先,介绍了TFNIFN的概念和运算法则,基于这些运算法则和Bonferroni平均(Bonferroni mean,BM)算子,定义了梯形模糊数直觉模糊Bonferroni平均算子和TFNIFWBM算子.然后,研究了这些算子的一些性质,建立基于TFNIFWBM算子的多属性群决策模型,结合排序方法进行决策.最后,将该方法应用在MAGDM中,算例结果表明了该方法的有效性与可行性.     

Weighted trapezoidal and triangular approximations of fuzzy numbers

In 2007, Zeng and Li proposed a weighted triangular approximation of a fuzzy number. Unfortunately, this approximation may fail to be a fuzzy number. In this paper, we improve this approximation and propose a generalization by the name of weighted trapezoidal approximation. Their algorithms are also presented. Finally, some examples and relevant properties are discussed.     

Trapezoidal approximations of fuzzy numbers preserving the expected interval — Algorithms and properties

Fuzzy number approximation by trapezoidal fuzzy numbers which preserves the expected interval is discussed. Algorithms for calculating the proper approximations are proposed and some properties of the approximation operators are discussed. It is shown that an adequate approximation operator might be chosen through the comparisons of some characteristics of the fuzzy number, like its ambiguity, width, its value and weighted expected value.     

Metric properties of the nearest extended parametric fuzzy number and applications

We propose the notion of extended parametric fuzzy number, which generalizes the extended trapezoidal fuzzy number and parametric fuzzy number, discussed in some recent papers. The metric properties of the nearest extended parametric fuzzy number of a fuzzy number, proved in the present article, help us to obtain the property of continuity for the parametric approximation operator and to simplify the solving of the problems of parametric approximations under conditions.     

一般梯形模糊逼近算子及其在模糊运输问题中的应用

研究运输成本信息为一般模糊数的模糊运输问题.首先,在保持一般模糊数的核不变的条件下,建立一般模糊数与一般梯形模糊数的距离最小优化模型,通过求解模型得到一般模糊数的一般梯形模糊逼近算子,并给出该逼近算子具有的性质如数乘不变性、平移不变性、连续性等.然后利用该逼近算子将一般模糊运输信息表转换成一般梯形模糊运输信息表,再根据已有GFLCM和GFMDM算法得到模糊运输问题的近似最优解,最后给出具体算例分析说明方法的有效性和合理性.     

A novel method for solving linear programming problems with symmetric trapezoidal fuzzy numbers

Linear programming (LP) is a widely used optimization method for solving real-life problems because of its efficiency. Although precise data are fundamentally indispensable in conventional LP problems, the observed values of the data in real-life problems are often imprecise. Fuzzy sets theory has been extensively used to represent imprecise data in LP by formalizing the inaccuracies inherent in human decision-making. The fuzzy LP (FLP) models in the literature generally either incorporate the imprecisions related to the coefficients of the objective function, the values of the right-hand-side, and/or the elements of the coefficient matrix. We propose a new method for solving FLP problems in which the coefficients of the objective function and the values of the right-hand-side are represented by symmetric trapezoidal fuzzy numbers while the elements of the coefficient matrix are represented by real numbers. We convert the FLP problem into an equivalent crisp LP problem and solve the crisp problem with the standard primal simplex method. We show that the method proposed in this study is simpler and computationally more efficient than two competing FLP methods commonly used in the literature.     

Triangular and parametric approximations of fuzzy numbers—inadvertences and corrections

Recent papers were dedicated to approximate fuzzy numbers by triangular, trapezoidal or parametric fuzzy numbers, with or without additional conditions. Unfortunately, the result of approximation is not always a fuzzy number, sometimes it is not a fuzzy set. We point out the wrongs and inadvertences in some recent papers, then we correct the results.     

On the nearest parametric approximation of a fuzzy number

Many nearest parametric approximation methods of fuzzy sets are proposed in the literature. It is clear that the specific approximations may lead to the loss of information about fuzziness. To overcome this problem, most of these methods rely on the minimization of the distance between the original fuzzy set and its approximation. But these approximations mostly are not flexible to the decision maker's choice. Hence, in this paper, we offer a parametric fuzzy approximation method based on the decision maker's strategy as an extension of trapezoidal approximation of a fuzzy number. This method comprises the selection of the form of the parametric membership function and its evaluation.     

A multi-attribute group decision-making method based on weighted geometric aggregation operators of interval-valued trapezoidal fuzzy numbers

With respect to the multiple attribute group decision making problems in which the attribute values take the form of generalized interval-valued trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (GITFN), this paper proposed a decision making method based on weighted geometric aggregation operators. First, some operational rules, the distance and comparison between two GITFNs are introduced. Second, the generalized interval-valued trapezoidal fuzzy numbers weighted geometric aggregation (GITFNWGA) operator, the generalized interval-valued trapezoidal fuzzy numbers ordered weighted geometric aggregation (GITFNOWGA) operator, and the generalized interval-valued trapezoidal fuzzy numbers hybrid geometric aggregation (GITFNHGA) operator are proposed, and their various properties are investigated. At the same time, the group decision methods based on these operators are also presented. Finally, an illustrate example is given to show the decision-making steps and the effectiveness of this method.     

An inventory model with backorders with fuzzy parameters and decision variables

The paper considers an inventory model with backorders in a fuzzy situation by employing two types of fuzzy numbers, which are trapezoidal and triangular. A full-fuzzy model is developed where the input parameters and the decision variables are fuzzified. The optimal policy for the developed model is determined using the Kuhn-Tucker conditions after the defuzzification of the cost function with the graded mean integration (GMI) method. Numerical examples and a sensitivity analysis study are provided to highlight the differences between crisp and the fuzzy cases.     

Same families of geometric aggregation operators with intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy numbers

The aim of this work is to present some cases of aggregation operators with intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy numbers and study their desirable properties. First, some operational laws of intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy numbers are introduced. Next, based on these operational laws, we develop some geometric aggregation operators for aggregating intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. In particular, we present the intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy weighted geometric (ITFWG) operator, the intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy ordered weighted geometric (ITFOWG) operator, the induced intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy ordered weighted geometric (I-ITFOWG) operator and the intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy hybrid geometric (ITFHG) operator. It is worth noting that the aggregated value by using these operators is also an intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy value. Then, an approach to multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) problems with intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy information is developed based on the ITFWG and the ITFHG operators. Finally, an illustrative example is given to verify the developed approach and to demonstrate its practicality and effectiveness.     

Ranking fuzzy numbers with maximizing set and minimizing set

Up to now, these are five methods of ranking n fuzzy numbers in order, but these methods contain some confusions and occasionally conflict with intuition. This paper introduces the concept of maximizing set and minimizing set to decide the ordering value of each fuzzy number and uses these values to determine the order of the n fuzzy numbers. In addition, we give a method for calculating the ordering value of each fuzzy number with triangular, trapezoidal, and two-sided drum-like shaped membership functions.     

Fuzzy linear programs with trapezoidal fuzzy numbers

The objective of this paper is to deal with a kind of fuzzy linear programming problem involving symmetric trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Some important and interesting results are obtained which in turn lead to a solution of fuzzy linear programming problems without converting them to crisp linear programming problems.     

Power average operators of trapezoidal intuitionistic fuzzy numbers and application to multi-attribute group decision making

Trapezoidal intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (TrIFNs) is a special intuitionistic fuzzy set on a real number set. TrIFNs are useful to deal with ill-known quantities in decision data and decision making problems themselves. The focus of this paper is on multi-attribute group decision making (MAGDM) problems in which the attribute values are expressed with TrIFNs, which are solved by developing a new decision method based on power average operators of TrIFNs. The new operation laws for TrIFNs are given. From a viewpoint of Hausdorff metric, the Hamming and Euclidean distances between TrIFNs are defined. Hereby the power average operator of real numbers is extended to four kinds of power average operators of TrIFNs, involving the power average operator of TrIFNs, the weighted power average operator of TrIFNs, the power ordered weighted average operator of TrIFNs, and the power hybrid average operator of TrIFNs. In the proposed group decision method, the individual overall evaluation values of alternatives are generated by using the power average operator of TrIFNs. Applying the hybrid average operator of TrIFNs, the individual overall evaluation values of alternatives are then integrated into the collective ones, which are used to rank the alternatives. The example analysis shows the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

A novel approach to multi attribute group decision making based on trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets

Soft set theory, originally proposed by Molodtsov, has become an effective mathematical tool to deal with uncertainty. A type-2 fuzzy set, which is characterized by a fuzzy membership function, can provide us with more degrees of freedom to represent the uncertainty and the vagueness of the real world. Interval type-2 fuzzy sets are the most widely used type-2 fuzzy sets. In this paper, we first introduce the concept of trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy numbers and present some arithmetic operations between them. As a special case of interval type-2 fuzzy sets, trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy numbers can express linguistic assessments by transforming them into numerical variables objectively. Then, by combining trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy sets with soft sets, we propose the notion of trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets. Furthermore, some operations on trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets are defined and their properties are investigated. Finally, by using trapezoidal interval type-2 fuzzy soft sets, we propose a novel approach to multi attribute group decision making under interval type-2 fuzzy environment. A numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Ranking fuzzy numbers with an area method using circumcenter of centroids

This paper proposes a new method for ranking fuzzy numbers based on the area between circumcenter of centroids of a fuzzy number and the origin. The proposed method not only uses an index of optimism, which reflects the decision maker’s optimistic attitude but also makes use of an index of modality which represents the importance of mode and spreads. This method ranks various types of fuzzy numbers which includes normal, generalized trapezoidal and triangular fuzzy numbers along with crisp numbers which are a special case of fuzzy numbers. Some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the validity and advantages of the proposed method.     

Ranking fuzzy numbers with integral value

Ranking fuzzy numbers is important in decision making. Since very often the alternatives are evaluated by fuzzy numbers in a vague environment, a comparison between these fuzzy numbers is indeed a comparison between alternatives. This paper proposes a method of ranking fuzzy numbers with integral value. The method, which is independent of the type of membership functions used and the normality of the functions, can rank more than two fuzzy numbers simultaneously. It is relatively simple in computation, especially in ranking triangular and trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Further, an index of optimism is used to reflect the decision maker's optimistic attitude. Discussion on comparative advantages is included.     

Some remarks on distances between fuzzy numbers

In this paper we consider different approaches to assigning distances between fuzzy numbers. A pseudo-metric on the set of fuzzy numbers arising from the idea of the value of a fuzzy number is described, and some of its topological properties are noted. Reducing functions are used to define a family of metrics on the space of fuzzy numbers; some convergent properties for these metrics are illustrated. Finally, a fuzzy distance between fuzzy numbers is introduced and its basic properties are studied.