Statistical data are not always precise numbers, or vectors, or categories. Real data are frequently what is called fuzzy. Examples where this fuzziness is obvious are quality of life data, environmental, biological, medical, sociological and economics data. Also the results of measurements can be best described by using fuzzy numbers and fuzzy vectors respectively. Statistical analysis methods have to be adapted for the analysis of fuzzy data. In this book, the foundations of the description of fuzzy data are explained, including methods on how to obtain the characterizing function of fuzzy measurement results. Furthermore, statistical methods are then generalized to the analysis of fuzzy data and fuzzy a-priori information. Key Features: Provides basic methods for the mathematical description of fuzzy data, as well as statistical methods that can be used to analyze fuzzy data. Describes methods of increasing importance with applications in areas such as environmental statistics and social science. Complements the theory with exercises and solutions and is illustrated throughout with diagrams and examples. Explores areas such quantitative description of data uncertainty and mathematical description of fuzzy data. This work is aimed at statisticians working with fuzzy logic, engineering statisticians, finance researchers, and environmental statisticians. It is written for readers who are familiar with elementary stochastic models and basic statistical methods.

This book presents basic aspects for a theory of statistics with fuzzy data, together with a set of practical applications. Theories of fuzzy logic and of random closed sets are used as basic ingredients in building statistical concepts and procedures in the context of imprecise data, including coarse data analysis. The book aims at motivating statisticians to examine fuzzy statistics to enlarge the domain of applicability of statistics in general.

This book presents basic aspects for a theory of statistics with fuzzy data, together with a set of practical applications. Theories of fuzzy logic and of random closed sets are used as basic ingredients in building statistical concepts and procedures in the context of imprecise data, including coarse data analysis. The book aims at motivating statisticians to examine fuzzy statistics to enlarge the domain of applicability of statistics in general.

Mainly focusing on processing uncertainty, this book presents state-of-the-art techniques and demonstrates their use in applications to econometrics and other areas. Processing uncertainty is essential, considering that computers – which help us understand real-life processes and make better decisions based on that understanding – get their information from measurements or from expert estimates, neither of which is ever 100% accurate. Measurement uncertainty is usually described using probabilistic techniques, while uncertainty in expert estimates is often described using fuzzy techniques. Therefore, it is important to master both techniques for processing data. This book is highly recommended for researchers and students interested in the latest results and challenges in uncertainty, as well as practitioners who want to learn how to use the corresponding state-of-the-art techniques.

This book offers a comprehensive reference guide to fuzzy statistics and fuzzy decision-making techniques. It provides readers with all the necessary tools for making statistical inference in the case of incomplete information or insufficient data, where classical statistics cannot be applied. The respective chapters, written by prominent researchers, explain a wealth of both basic and advanced concepts including: fuzzy probability distributions, fuzzy frequency distributions, fuzzy Bayesian inference, fuzzy mean, mode and median, fuzzy dispersion, fuzzy p-value, and many others. To foster a better understanding, all the chapters include relevant numerical examples or case studies. Taken together, they form an excellent reference guide for researchers, lecturers and postgraduate students pursuing research on fuzzy statistics. Moreover, by extending all the main aspects of classical statistical decision-making to its fuzzy counterpart, the book presents a dynamic snapshot of the field that is expected to stimulate new directions, ideas and developments.

1. 1 Introduction This book is written in four major divisions. The first part is the introductory chapters consisting of Chapters 1 and 2. In part two, Chapters 3-11, we develop fuzzy estimation. For example, in Chapter 3 we construct a fuzzy estimator for the mean of a normal distribution assuming the variance is known. More details on fuzzy estimation are in Chapter 3 and then after Chapter 3, Chapters 4-11 can be read independently. Part three, Chapters 12- 20, are on fuzzy hypothesis testing. For example, in Chapter 12 we consider the test Ho : /1 = /10 verses HI : /1 f=- /10 where /1 is the mean of a normal distribution with known variance, but we use a fuzzy number (from Chapter 3) estimator of /1 in the test statistic. More details on fuzzy hypothesis testing are in Chapter 12 and then after Chapter 12 Chapters 13-20 may be read independently. Part four, Chapters 21-27, are on fuzzy regression and fuzzy prediction. We start with fuzzy correlation in Chapter 21. Simple linear regression is the topic in Chapters 22-24 and Chapters 25-27 concentrate on multiple linear regression. Part two (fuzzy estimation) is used in Chapters 22 and 25; and part 3 (fuzzy hypothesis testing) is employed in Chapters 24 and 27. Fuzzy prediction is contained in Chapters 23 and 26. A most important part of our models in fuzzy statistics is that we always start with a random sample producing crisp (non-fuzzy) data.

In recent years there has been a growing interest to extend classical methods for data analysis. The aim is to allow a more flexible modeling of phenomena such as uncertainty, imprecision or ignorance. Such extensions of classical probability theory and statistics are useful in many real-life situations, since uncertainties in data are not only present in the form of randomness --- various types of incomplete or subjective information have to be handled. About twelve years ago the idea of strengthening the dialogue between the various research communities in the field of data analysis was born and resulted in the International Conference Series on Soft Methods in Probability and Statistics (SMPS). This book gathers contributions presented at the SMPS'2012 held in Konstanz, Germany. Its aim is to present recent results illustrating new trends in intelligent data analysis. It gives a comprehensive overview of current research into the fusion of soft computing methods with probability and statistics. Synergies of both fields might improve intelligent data analysis methods in terms of robustness to noise and applicability to larger datasets, while being able to efficiently obtain understandable solutions of real-world problems.

Fundamentals of Fuzzy Sets covers the basic elements of fuzzy set theory. Its four-part organization provides easy referencing of recent as well as older results in the field. The first part discusses the historical emergence of fuzzy sets, and delves into fuzzy set connectives, and the representation and measurement of membership functions. The second part covers fuzzy relations, including orderings, similarity, and relational equations. The third part, devoted to uncertainty modelling, introduces possibility theory, contrasting and relating it with probabilities, and reviews information measures of specificity and fuzziness. The last part concerns fuzzy sets on the real line - computation with fuzzy intervals, metric topology of fuzzy numbers, and the calculus of fuzzy-valued functions. Each chapter is written by one or more recognized specialists and offers a tutorial introduction to the topics, together with an extensive bibliography.

This book is both a reference for engineers and scientists and a teaching resource, featuring tutorial chapters and research papers on feature extraction. Until now there has been insufficient consideration of feature selection algorithms, no unified presentation of leading methods, and no systematic comparisons.

The current volume “New Advances in Intelligent Signal Processing” contains extended works based on a careful selection of papers presented originally at the jubilee sixth IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Signal Processing (WISP’2009), held in Budapest Hungary, August 26-28, 2009 - celebrating the 10 years anniversary of the WISP event series. The present book does not intent to be an overall survey on the fields of interest of the area, but tries to find topics which represent new, hot, and challenging problems. The book begins with papers investigating selected problems of Modeling, Identification, and Clustering such as fuzzy random variables, evolutionary multi-objective neural network models, a structural learning model of neural networks within a Boltzmann machine, a robust DNA-based clustering techniques, and the advances of combining multi-criteria analysis of signals and pattern recognition using machine learning principles. In the second part of the book Image Processing is treated. The carefully edited chapters deal with fuzzy relation based image enhancement, image contrast control technique based on the application of Łukasiewicz algebra operators, low complexity situational models of image quality improvement, flexible representation of map images to quantum computers, and object recognition in images. The last chapter presents an image processing application for elderly care, performing real-time 3D tracking based on a new evaluative multi-modal algorithm.