Solving Multi-Objective Linear Programming Problem by Statistical Averaging Method with the Help of Fuzzy Programming Method ()
1. Introduction
Fuzzy decision-making technique is used repeatedly for fuzzy multi-objective linear programming problem. It has been investigated for more than decades by many researchers. The idea of fuzzy set was first proposed by Zadeh [1].
The idea of fuzzy decision was mentioned by Bellman and Zadeh in 1970. Multi-Objective Linear Programming problems (MOLPP) with fuzzy goals were taken into account by Zimmerman [2]. The most common approach to solve fuzzy linear programming problem is to shift them to similar deterministic linear program. Zimmerman has introduced fuzzy programming approach to solve crisp multi-objective linear programming problem. Fuzzy linear programming problem (FLPP) in fuzzy environment was introduced by Tanaka and Asai [3]. In study there are several methods for solving MOLPP models by applying fuzzy programming approaches. Thakre et al. [4] provided a method to solve FLPP where both the coefficient matrix of the constraints and cost coefficient are fuzzy in nature.
First formulation of fuzzy linear programming (FLP) was proposed by Zimmermann. A new fuzzy primal and dual simplex algorithm is for solving FLP by Mahdavi-Amiri et al. [5].
Nasseri and Alizadeh [6] proposed a fuzzy Big-M method. Nehi [7] used ranking function to solve fuzzy MOLPP. A method is proposed by Kiruthiga and Loganathan [8] to find crisp MOLPP from FMOLPP by using ranking function.
In this paper, we solve MOLPP by using fuzzy programming method. For making single objective from multi-objective, we apply Chandra Sen’s method and statistical averaging method by Nahar and Alim [9]. It can be seen that when we use fuzzy programming method, we get better result rather than solving ordinary simplex method.
Fuzzy number
Let X be a set of objects for fuzzy statement. The set of ordered pairs
where
is a fuzzy set in X. The evaluation function
is called the membership function.
A fuzzy number A = (a, b, c) is said to be a triangular fuzzy number if its membership function is given by
Mathematical model of multi-objective linear programming problem:
Subject to
(1)
To verify the result, two examples are shown. One is numerical example (Hypothetical) and the other is real life example (An investigation for the risk reduction along the coastal area).
2. Methods
Chandra Sen’s method [10] is very popular method for making single objective LPP from MOLPP. For data analysis statistic and mathematics are related to each other to analyze results. Statistical averaging method is a method using average. For solving optimization problem simplex method is a technique involving single objective function or multi-objective function with some constraints. Fuzzy programming method is an optimization model which is associated with uncertainty. Fuzzy programming method works on the concept of fuzzy logic.
In this paper for making single objective from MOLPP, Chandra Sen’s method and statistical averaging methods are used. Later on, the single objective function is solved by the ordinary simplex method and fuzzy programming method and hence the results are compared.
Fuzzy Programming Method
Step 1: Solve MOLPP by using simplex algorithm, considering only one of the objectives at a time and ignoring all others. Repeat the process s times for s different objective functions.
Step 2: Using all solutions in step 1, construct a pay off matrix of size s by s. Then from the pay off matrix estimate the lower bound (Ls) and the upper bound (Us) for the kth objective function zs as:
Step 3: Define a fuzzy linear membership function
for the sth objective function
(2)
Step 4: Using membership functions we can get a crisp model by introducing an augmented variable
Subject to (1) can be further written as
Minimize
Subject to
(3)
Step 5: Solve the crisp model by simplex algorithm and find optimal solution.
3. Numerical Example (Hypothetical)
(4)
Subject to
(5)
For the first objective function in Equation (4) with constraints in equation (5), by applying simplex algorithm we get z1 = 11.25 with (5/4, 0, 0). The value of the objective function is obtained using the steps of simplex method.
Similarly for second objective function in equation (4) with same constraints in equation (5) we get z2 = 5.63 with (14/19, 0, 13/19).
And for last objective function in Equation (4) with same constraints in equation (5) we get z3 = 5 with (0, 7/4, 1/2).
A Pay-off matrix is formulated as in “Table 1”.
For the Pay-off matrix, lower and upper bound are established as:
(6)
Using Equation (3) we can write as
min
Subject to
(7)
Using simplex algorithm, we get the result
.
Finally, the crisp model is solved to get the result
.
Thus, for simplex method we get the optimal values for
and for fuzzy programming method we get
.
3.1. Ordinary Simplex Method
For making single objective from multi-objective applying Chandra Sen’s method by Sen
Thus, the single objective becomes
(8)
From the single objective function in Equation (8) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get z = 2.5925 with (0, 7/4, 1/2).
For
using statistical averaging method such as arithmetic mean (A.M), geometric mean (G.M) and harmonic mean (H.M) we get
Applying arithmetic mean formula by Nahar and Alim we can write
Thus, the single objective becomes
(9)
From the single objective function in Equation (9) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get
z = 2.5715 with (0, 7/4, 1/2)
Applying geometric mean formula by Nahar and Alim we can write
Thus, the single objective is
(10)
From the single objective function in equation (10) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get z = 2.8075 with (0, 7/4, 1/2).
Applying Harmonic mean formula by Nahar and Alim (2017) we can write
Thus, the single objective is
(11)
From the single objective function in Equation (11) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get z = 2.9175 with (0, 7/4, 1/2).
3.2. Fuzzy Programming Method
Using the value of fuzzy programming method applying Chanda Sen’s method by Sen
Thus, the single objective is
(12)
From the single objective function in Equation (12) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get z = 3.523 with (0, 7/4, 1/2).
For
using statistical averaging method such as arithmetic mean (A.M), geometric mean (G.M) and harmonic mean (H.M) we get
Applying arithmetic mean formula by Nahar and Alim (2017) we can write
(13)
From the single objective function in Equation (13) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get z = 3.1472 with (0, 7/4, 1/2).
Applying geometric mean formula by Nahar and Alim (2017) we can write
Thus, single objective is
(14)
From the single objective function in Equation (14) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get z = 3.65 with (0, 7/4, 1/2).
Applying harmonic mean formula by Nahar and Alim (2017) we can write
Thus, the single objective is
(15)
From the single objective function in Equation (15) with same constraints (5) by using simplex algorithm we get z = 4.083 with (0, 7/4, 1/2). All these results can be shown in “Table 2”.
“Table 2” can be described as in “Figure 1”.
Table 2. Comparison between Chandra Sen’s method and statistical averaging method in both method ordinary simplex and fuzzy programming method.
Figure 1. Optimal values of MOLPP by using ordinary and fuzzy programming method.
4. Real Life Example
For the real life example, an example is taken from Nahar, et al. [11] in 2022. In Nahar, et al., a Fuzzy multi-objective linear programming problem is formulated from a data list collected from IWFM (BUET) which is a secondary data. The objective was to reduce the risk and hazard of the coastal area during natural disasters. They consider four parameters and they maximize cropping intensity and shelter and minimize erosion and population density. They selected four parameters defined as decision variables,
, which are risk and vulnerability indicators.
for cropping intensity,
for shelter,
for erosion and
for population density.
The objective function of fuzzy linear programming problem is by Nahar, et al.
With fuzzy constraints
Thus, the multiple objective functions become as like by Nahar, et al.
(16)
subject to
(17)
For the first objective function in Equation (16) with same constraints in Equation (17), by applying simplex algorithm we get
with (0, 0.1459, 0, 0)
For the second objective function in Equation (16) with same constraints in Equation (17), by applying simplex algorithm we get
with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0)
Similarly for third objective function, in equation (16) with same constraints in Equation (17), we get
with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0)
4.1. Chandra Sen’s Method
Applying Chandra Sen’s method for making single objective function from multi objective functions
Thus, the single objective function becomes
(18)
For this objective function in Equation (18) with same constraints in Equation (17) we get the result 2 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
4.2. Statistical Averaging Method
Applying arithmetic mean, geometric mean and harmonic mean among
Arithmetic averaging method:
Thus, the single objective function becomes
(19)
For this objective function in Equation (19) with same constraints in equation (17) we get the result 4.0935 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
Harmonic averaging method:
Thus, the single objective becomes
(20)
For this objective function in Equation (20) with same constraints in equation (17) we get the result 2.0467 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
It can be seen from “Table 3” that in statistical averaging method, arithmetic averaging and harmonic averaging gives better result than those Chandra Sen’s method.
4.3. New Statistical Averaging Method
Choosing minimum from the optimal values of maximum type in Chandra Sen’s method we get m = 0.4886
Thus, the single objective becomes
(21)
For this objective function in Equation (21) with same constraints in equation (17) we get the result 4.0933 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
It can be seen from “Table 4” that statistical averaging method and new statistical averaging method give better result than Chandra Sen’s method.
Table 3. Comparison between Chandra Sen’s method and statistical averaging method.
Table 4. Comparison among Chandra Sen’s method, statistical averaging method and new statistical averaging method.
4.4. Solving Multi-Objective Linear Programming Problem by Fuzzy Programming Method
(22)
subject to
(23)
For the first objective function in Equation (22) with constraints in equation (23) by using simplex algorithm we get z1 = 0 with (0, 0.1459, 0, 0).
Similarly for second objective function in equation (22) with same constraints in Equation (23) by using simplex algorithm we get z2 = 1.224 with (3.6538, 0, 0, 0).
And for the last objective function in Equation (22) with same constraints in Equation (23) by using simplex algorithm we get z3 = 0.9771 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
A pay-off matrix is formulated as in “Table 5”.
For the Pay-off matrix, lower and upper bound are established as:
(24)
Using the membership functions as defined and introducing augmented variable
a crisp model is formulated as
min
Subject to
(25)
Using simplex algorithm, we get the result
Finally, the crisp model is solved to get the result
Using the value of Fuzzy Programming method applying Chanda Sen’s method
(26)
For the single objective function in Equation (26) with constraints in Equation (23), by using simplex algorithm we get z = 2.002 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
Applying arithmetic mean formula by Nahar and Alim (2017) we get the single objective function
(27)
For the single objective function in Equation (27) with constraints in equation (23), by using simplex algorithm we get z = 2.004 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
Applying harmonic mean formula by Nahar and Alim (2017) we get the single objective function
(28)
For the single objective function in Equation (28) with constraints in Equation (23), by using simplex algorithm we get z = 2.2501 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
4.5. New Statistical Averaging Method
Choosing minimum from the optimal values of maximum type in Chandra Sen’s method we get m = 0.4885
(29)
For this objective function in Equation (29) with same constraints in equation (23) we get the result 6.006 with (0, 1.3571, 0, 0).
It can be seen from “Table 6” that statistical averaging method and new statistical averaging method give better result than Chandra Sen’s method.
This table can be described in the following bar diagram in “Figure 2”.
Table 6. Comparison among Chandra Sen’s method, statistical averaging method and new statistical averaging method.
Figure 2. Optimal values of MOLPP by using ordinary and fuzzy programming method.
5. Conclusion
For finding optimal values here we apply simplex method and fuzzy programming method. Fuzzy programming method gives better optimal values than simplex method. Our next stage is making single objective function from multi-objective functions. For this we apply statistical averaging method and new statistical method. It can be seen that statistical averaging method gives better result than Chandra Sen’s method in both ordinary simplex method and in fuzzy programming method. To reduce risk in the coastal region fuzzy programming method is used here. It can be seen that risk reduction capacity is maximized in fuzzy programming method.