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.