No label defined (Q3977413)

An additive utility representation of an \(m\)-ary relation \(\lor\) on a set \(X\) is a real function \(f\) defined over \(X\) such that for all \(x_1,\ldots,x_m\), \(y_1,\ldots,y_m\in X\), \(x_1\cdots x_m\lor y_1\cdots y_m\) is equivalent to \(\sum f(x_i)\geq\sum f(y_i)\). The authors give, in the case of finite \(X\), a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a function \(f\) which satisfies: (*) \(\lor\) is connected and for all permutations \(\pi\), \(\sigma\) of \(\{1,\dots,m\}\), all \(n>0\) and all permutations \(\tau_1,\ldots,\tau_m\) of \(\{0,1,\ldots,n\}\), \(x_1\cdots x_m\lor y_1\cdots y_m\) implies \(x_{\pi(1)}\cdots x_{\pi(m)}\lor y_{\sigma(1)}\cdots y_{\sigma(m)}\) while \(x^j_1\cdots x^j_m\lor x_1^{\tau_1(j)}\cdots x_m^{\tau_m(j)}\) for \(j=1,\dots,n\) implies \(x_1^{\tau_ 1(0)}\cdots x_m^{\tau_m(0)}\lor x^0_1\cdots x^0_m\). In the case where \(X\) is a connected topological space the authors announce and partly prove a theorem providing necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a continuous additive utility representation, which is (*) supplemented by the closedness of all sets \(\{w\in X\mid wx_2\cdots x_m\lor y_1\cdots y_m\}\) and \(\{w\in X\mid x_2 \cdots x_m\lor y_1\cdots y_{m - 1}w\}\). The proofs are based on the results of \textit{D. Scott} [J. Math. Psychol. 1, No. 1, 233--247 (1964; Zbl 0129.12102)] and \textit{F. Loonstra} [Nederl. Akad. Wet., Proc. 49, 41--46 (1946; Zbl 0061.03407); resp. Indag. Math. 8, 5--10 (1946)]. The authors give a historical background of the problem which goes back to the results of \textit{G. Debreu} [in: Math. Methods Social Sci., Proc. 1st Stanford Sympos., 16--26 (1960; Zbl 0249.90005)] and \textit{D. H. Krantz}, \textit{R. D. Luce}, \textit{P. Suppes} and \textit{A. Tversky} [Foundations of measurement. Vol. I. New York etc.: Academic Press (1971; Zbl 0232.02040)]. [For the entire collection see Zbl 0669.00029.]