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The concept of fuzzy sets with special regard to their linguistic interpretation — a solution for fuzzy problems?

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Abstract

The concept of fuzzy sets is often recommended for the solution of problems which cannot be formulated in a precise manner as a result of inaccuracies or uncertainties. A short survey of essential applications in business economics is given. The linguistic interpretation of fuzzy sets associating those sets with unprecise (“fuzzy”) expressions of natural language is especially emphasized. Problem descriptions unprecisely expressed in natural language can be transformed in an exact calculus of fuzzy sets. Main application areas of fuzzy sets interpreted in this linguistic manner are presented. Difficulties that may arise out of the connection between unprecise problem descriptions and an exact set-theoretic calculus are considered.

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  1. Seminar für Allgemeine Betriebswirtschaftslehre, Industriebetriebslehre und Produktionswirtschaft (“Industrieseminar”), Universität Köln, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 5000, Köln 41, Germany

    S. Zelewski

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This article is an abbreviated version of the working paper Zelewski (1986a), available from the author.

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Zelewski, S. The concept of fuzzy sets with special regard to their linguistic interpretation — a solution for fuzzy problems?. Zeitschrift für Operations Research 32, 47–68 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01920573

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