The min-max composition rule and its superiority over the usual max-min composition rule (Q1291522)

The study is concerned with the use of the min-max composition as an inference mechanism in syllogistic reasoning. Given two statements ``if \(A\) then \(B\)'' and ``if \(B\) then \(C\)'' including fuzzy sets \(A\), \(B\), and \(C\) with the membership functions defined in finite universes of discourse, the proposed model reads \[ \tau_{ij}= \min(\max (\mu_{ik},\nu_{kj})) \] with \(\tau_{ij}= A(x_i)\to C(z_j)\), \(\mu_{ik}= A(x_i)\to B(y_k)\), \(\nu_{kj}= B(y_k)\to C(z_j)\). Moreover \(a\to b= \max(1-a,b)\), \(a,b\in [0,1]\). The min-max rule gives rise to a new notion of transitivity and the resulting notion of a fuzzy equivalence relation. The properties of these constructs are studied in detail.