An Improved Ranking Method For Fuzzy Numbers Using

Integral Value of Invers Function

M Sam’an1, Farikhin2,
1
Magister Mathematics Study Program, Faculty of Sains and Mathematics,
Diponegoro University, Jl.Prof. H.Soedarto,SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia
2,
Mathematics Departement, Faculty of Sains and Mathematics, Diponegoro
University, Jl.Prof. H.Soedarto, SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia

Abstract.
Ranking fuzzy numbers is very important decision making in process, procedure, analysis and aplication. Practiclly,
many problems in real situation which need handling and evaluating for problems have fuzzy data, so that ranking
fuzzy number can be used to make decision precisely. Vincent and Dat proposed an improved Liou and Wang’s
approach for left, right, and total integral values of the fuzzy number. However, the improved by Vincent and Dat fails
to rank trapezoidal fuzzy numbers having equal the compensation of areas. This paper proposes an improved ranking
method to overcome shortcomings of Vincent and Dat’s ranking method. The proposed ranking method presents an
improved approach for ranking fuzzy numbers, presenting the novel left, right, and total integral values from invers
function of fuzzy numbers. Finally, several comparative examples are given here to illustrate the advantages of the
proposed ranking method for fuzzy numbers.

Keywords: Ranking fuzzy number, Total integral value, Index of optimism.

1. Introduction
Ranking fuzzy number is very important in making decision process. Practiclly, many problems
in real situation which need handling and evaluating for problems have fuzzy data, so that ranking
fuzzy number can be used to make decision precisely. Until now, numerous ranking approaches have
been proposed, such as Liou and Wang approach [1]. This approach was proposed besed on an integral
value index. Kumar et al. [2] proposed an approach for ranking generalized exponential fuzzy numbers
using an integral value approach. Kumar et al. [3] modified Liou and Wang’s [1] approach for the
ranking of an L–R type generalized fuzzy number. Ebrahimnejad [4] modified Kumar’s et al. [3]
method for the ranking of an generalized trapezoidal fuzzy number. Vincent and Dat [5] an improved
Liou and Wang’s [1] approach for left, right, and total integral values of the fuzzy numbers. Vincent et
all [6] proposed an epsilon-deviation degree approach based on the left and the right areas of a fuzzy
number and the concept of a centroid point. Rezvani [7] proposed a method of ranking exponential
trapezoidal fuzzy number based on variance obtained through Mellin transform of the fuzzy number.
Based on the aforementioned shortcomings with Liou and Wang’s [1] ranking approach,
Vincent and Dat [5] proposed an improved Liou and Wang’s [1] approach for left, right, and total
integral values of the fuzzy number. However, the improved by Vincent and Dat [5] fails to rank
trapezoidal fuzzy numbers having equal the compensation of areas. In this paper proposes an
improved approach for ranking fuzzy numbers, presenting the novel left, right, and total integral
values from invers function of fuzzy numbers. In order for the proposed method to have flexibility, the
decision maker’s optimistic attitude of fuzzy numbers is taken into account. Finally, several
comparative examples are given to demonstrate the usages and advantages of the proposed ranking
approach for fuzzy numbers. The results show that the proposed ranking approach can effectively
overcome the shortcomings of Vincent and Dat’s approach.
2. Preliminaries
This section presents the definitions of fuzzy numbers and ranking approach as follows.
Definition 1 [8]. A fuzzy number is a fuzzy subset in support ℜ (real number) that is both
(A) x ∈ ℜ|μ A >0
{ }
“normal” and “convex”, where supp = . Normality implies that the maximum
value of the fuzzy set A in ℜ is 1. Therefore, the non-normal fuzzy number is ∀ x ∈ ℜ ,
Max x {μ A ( x ) }<1 .For convenience, the fuzzy number can be denoted by A= [ a,b ,c ,d; w ] , and
the membership function of fuzzy number A can be expressed as

f LA ( x ) , a≤x≤b
f A ( x )= R
{ w b < x≤c
f A ( x ) c < x≤d

(1)
0 d >0

L R L R
where f A : [ a , b ] → [ 0 , w ] and f A : [ c , d ] →[ 0 , w ] . Since f A and f A are both strictly
monotonical and continuous functions, their inverse functions exist and should be continuous and
strictly monotonical. The inverse functions of f LA and
f RA can be denoted by
g LA : [ 0 , w ] → [ a , b ] and g RA : [ 0 , w ] → [ c , d ] , respectively. As such, g LA and g RA are then
w w

integrable on the closed interval [ 0,w ] In other words, both

∫0 g LA ( y )dy and
∫0 g RA ( y )dy exist
[1].
Definition 2 [6]. Suppose there are n fuzzy numbers
A i ,i=1,2,3 ,...,n, with the left membership
L R
function f A and right membership function f A
A
. The left and right integral value of i are
defined as:
b
S L ( A i )=wi (bi −x min )−∫ai f LA ( x )dx
i i
(2)
d
S R ( A i )=wi ( ci −x min )+∫c i f RA ( x )dx
i i
(3)

x min =inf P , P=¿ni=1 Pi , Pi= { x /f A i≻0 } , w i =sup x f Ai ( x ). S L ( A i )≥0 dan a

where Both
S R( A i )≥0 . For a moderate decision maker, with α=0 .5 , the total integral value of each fuzzy
number
A i becomes:

α
S T ( Ai )=αS R ( A i )+(1−α )S L ( A i ) (4)
α
The greater is S T ( Ai ) , the bigger the fuzzy number
A
i is and the higher its ranking order.
Based on Definition 2 and simplify to computional procedure, Vincent and Dat [5] proposed an
ranking method is further applied for trapezoidal fuzzy numbers with an index of optimistic
α ∈ [ 0,1 ] . Considering the normal trapezoidal fuzzy number A=(a,b,c ,d ;1) , where
 a<b≤c < d then the left and right membership functions of fuzzy number A are
L R
f A =(x−a)/( b−a) and f A =(x−d )/( c−d ) respectively. Thus,
b
S L ( A i )=b−x min−∫a ( x−a )/(b−a )dx
¿(1/2 )(a+b−2 x min )=I L ( A )−x min (5)
and
b
S R( A i )=c−x min +∫a ( x−d )/(d−c )dx
¿(1/2 )(c +d −2 x min )=I R ( A )−x min (6)
Given α ∈ [ 0,1 ] , From Eq (5) and (6) so the total integral value of the normal trapezoidal fuzzy
number A=(a,b,c ,d ;1) can be obtained as:
S αT ( A )=( 1/2 ) [ α (c +d )+(1−α)(b +a )−2 x min ]
¿ αI R ( A )+(1−α )I L ( A )−x min (7)

3. Proposed method
In order to overcome the shortcomings of Vincent and Dat’s [5] ranking approach, this section
proposes an improved approach for ranking fuzzy numbers, presenting the novel left, right, and total
integral values from invers function of fuzzy numbers as follows.
Definition 3. Suppose there are n fuzzy numbers
A i ,i=1,2,3 ,...,n, with the left membership
function f LA and right membership function f RA . Suppose that g LA is the inverse function of
f LA
R R
A
and g A is the inverse function of f A , then the left and right integral value of i are
defined as:

1
L
S̄ L ( A i )=wi (bi −x min )+∫0 g A ( y)dy
i
(8)
1 R
S̄ R ( A i )=wi ( ci −x min )−∫0 g A ( y )dy
i
(9)

n
x min=inf P , P=¿i=1 Pi , Pi= { f Ai /x≻0 } , w i =sup x f Ai ( x ). S̄ L ( A i )≥0 dan
where Both
S̄ R( A i )≥0 . For a moderate decision maker, with α=0 .5 , the total integral value from invers
function of each fuzzy number
A i becomes:

S̄ αT ( Ai )=α S̄ R ( Ai )+(1−α ) S̄ L ( A i )
(10)

It is obvious that in (1), f LA =(x−a)/( b−a) and f RA =( x−d )/( c−d ) . The inverse

functions of f LA and f RA are g LA =a+( b−a ) y and g RA =d+( c−d ) y , where

y∈ [ 0,1 ] . Thus,
 1
S̄ L ( A i )=b−x min+∫0 a+(b−a ) y dy
¿(1/2 )(a+3 b)−x min (11)
and
1
S̄ R( A i )=c−x min −∫0 d +( c−d ) y dy
¿(1/2 )(c−d )−x min (12)
For simplicity of calculation, given α ∈ [ 0,1 ] the total integral value from invers function of the
normal trapezoidal fuzzy number A=(a,b,c ,d ;1) can be obtained as:
α
S̄ T ( A )=( 1/2 ) [ α(c−d )+(1−α )(a+3 b ) ] −x min (13)

4. Comparative examples
To present the rationality and necessity for the revision of Vincent and Dat’s [5] rangking
approach, the following examples are employed to compare our proposed approach with their original
one other methods in the literature.
Example 1. Consider the trapezoidal fuzzy numbers A 1 =(2,3,4,5;1) and
A 2 =( 4,5,6,7 ;1 ) .
Using Vincent and Dat’s [4] rangking approach in Eq. (7), the total integral values of
A 1 and A 2
are the same, i.e. S αT ( A1 )=STα ( A 2 )=3 α −2 . Thus, the ranking order of fuzzy numbers A 1 and
A 2 is the same, i.e., A 1 ≈ A2 for every α ∈ [ 0,1 ] . Therefore, Vincent and Dat’s approach fails
to correctly rank the given fuzzy numbers. Menwhile, Using the improved rangking approach in Eq.
(13), the total integral value
A 1 and
of
A2 are S̄ αT ( A1 )=5 . 2−6 α and
S̄ αT ( A2 )=9. 3−12α . Respectively, since α=0 for pessimistic decision maker, the total integral

value of
A 1 and A 2 are S̄ 0T ( A1 )=5 . 2 and S̄ 0T ( A2 )=9. 3 , i.e. A 2 ≻A 1 Conversely,
α=1 for an optimistic decision maker, where by the total integral value of A 1 and A 2 are
recpectively S̄ 0T ( A1 )=−0. 8 and S̄ 0T ( A2 )=−2. 7 , i.e. A 1 ≻A 2 . For a moderet decision maker
α=0 .5
The total integral values
A 1 and A 2 are S̄ 0T ( A1 )=2 . 2 and S̄ 0T ( A2 )=3 . 3 , i.e. A 2 ≻A 1 .
Therefore, the ranking order is
A 2 ≻A 1 for α=0 , α=0 .5 and A 1 ≻A 2 for α=1 .
Clearly, the proposed ranking approach can overcome the shortcomings of the inconsistency of
Vincent and Dat’s method in ranking fuzzy numbers.

Example 2. Consider the trapezoidal fuzzy numbers A=(1,3,5,7;1) , B=(2,3,4,5 ;1) and
C=(1,4,6,9 ;1) . According to Eq. (7), the total integral values of fuzzy numbers A ,B and C
are recpectively S αT ( A )=2 α , S αT ( B)=α +0 . 5 and S αT (C )=3 α −0 . 5 . Thus, the ranking
orders of fuzzy numbers A ,B and C are C≺B≺A for α=0 , A≺B≺C for
α=1 and A≈B≈C for α=0 .5 . Therefore, Vincent and Dat’s approach fails to correctly
rank the given fuzzy numbers for a moderet decision maker α=0 .5 . Using to proposed from Eq.
(13), the total integral values of fuzzy numbers A ,B and C are recpectively
S̄ αT ( A )=4 .7−α , S̄ αT ( B)=5. 2−8 α and S̄ αT (C )=5 . 9−13 α So, the ranking orders of
fuzzy numbers A ,B
and C are A≺B≺C for α=0 , C≺B≺A for α=1 and
C≺B≺A for α=0 .5 . Again, this example shows that the proposed ranking approach can
overcomes the shortcomings of the inconsistency of Vincent and Dat’s method in ranking fuzzy
numbers.
Example 3. Consider the data used in [9]. i.e., the three normal trapezoidal numbers
A=(5,6,7,8;1 ) , B=(5.9,6,7,8;1) and C=(6,6,7,8 ;1) . From Eq. (7), the total integral
α
values of fuzzy numbers A ,B and C are obtained as S T ( A )=α+ 0 .5 ,
S αT ( B)=0 .5 α+5. 4 S αT (C )=0 . 5 α . The ranking orders of fuzzy numbers A ,B and
and
C are respectively C≺A≺B for α=0 , C≺A≺B for α=1 and C≺A≺B
for α=0 .5 . Meanwhile, using to proposed from Eq. (13), the total integral values of fuzzy
numbers A ,B and C are recpectively S̄ αT ( A )=11 . 34−14 α , S̄ αT ( B)=11. 81−14 . 45 α

and S̄ αT (C )=4 . 6−7 . 25 α . Thus, the ranking orders of fuzzy numbers A ,B and C are
B≺A≺C for α=0 , B≺A≺C for α=1 and B≺A≺C for α=0 .5 . It is
observed that for optimistic (α=1) , moderate (α=0.5 ) and pessimistic decision maker
(α=0 ) showed consistent. Table 1 summarizes from comparative result Example 1 to 3 by
different method.

Table 1. Summarize comparative of example.

Index Ranking approach
Ordering Optimisti Liou and Vincent and Proposed
c Wang [1] Dat [5] method
α=0 A 1 ≺A 2 A 1 ≈ A2 A 1 ≺A 2
Example 1 α=0 .5 A 1 ≺A 2 A 1 ≈ A2 A 1 ≺A 2
α=1 A 1 ≺A 2 A 1 ≈ A2 A 1 ≻A 2
α=0 B≈C≺ A C≺B≺A A≺B≺C
Example 2 α=0 .5 B≺C≺A A≺B≺ A C≺B≺A
α=1 B≺C≈ A A≈B≈ A C≺B≺A
α=0 A≺B≺C C≺A≺B B≺A≺C
Example 3 α=0 .5 A≺B≺C C≺A≺B B≺A≺C
α=1 A≈B≈C C≺A≺B B≺A≺C

5. Conclusion
This paper has proposed a revised ranking approach to overcome the shortcomings of Vincent
and Dat’s ranking method. The proposed ranking method presents the improve invers function from
left, right and total integral value of fuzzy numbers. Several comparative example has been given of
proposed ranking method. The result indicate that the ranking order obtained by the proposed method
is more consistent than Vincent and Dat’s and Liou and Wang’s method. Furthermore, the improved
and revised ranking method are easy to apply and can effectively rank a mix of various types of fuzzy
numbers, including normal, non-normal, hexagonal, octagonal and other types of fuzzy numbers.

6. Reference

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