An area-based approach to ranking fuzzy numbers in fuzzy decision making

This paper presents an area-based approach to ranking fuzzy numbers in fuzzy decision making. To ensure that all the information that a fuzzy number has is adequately considered, the concepts of the absolute area and the degree of deviation of a fuzzy number are integrated into the process of comparing and ranking fuzzy numbers. To help the decision maker better address the risk inherent in the decision making process, the attitude of the decision maker towards risk is considered in developing the overall ranking index for each fuzzy number. As a result, the proposed approach can adequately address the problems that existing approaches suffer from. Examples are presented that shows the proposed approach is effective and efficient in comparing and ranking fuzzy numbers due to its rationality in concept, simplicity in computation, and discriminatory ability in differentiating similar fuzzy numbers.