Covering Problem for Solutions of Max-Archimedean Bipolar Fuzzy Relation Equations

Abstract

This paper discusses the resolution of max-Archimedean bipolar fuzzy relation equations. In the literature, many methods have been proposed based on 0-1 integer programming problem or reduction methods for the optimization with bipolar fuzzy relation equations. A new concept based on the idea of covering and the notions of leading, non-leading variables are introduced in the present paper for finding the solutions of max-Archimedean bipolar fuzzy relation equations. It is shown that the problem of finding the complete solution set of the system of max-Archimedean bipolar fuzzy relation equations is equivalent to solving a covering problem and the solutions of such equations correspond to irredundant coverings of the covering problem. The proposed method is illustrated with some examples.