A method for computing the most typical fuzzy expected value

A new method for computing the most typical fuzzy expected value of a membership function in a fuzzy set is described. The fuzzy expected value computed by this method denoted as the clustering fuzzy expected value (CFEV) is based on grouping of individual responses, that meet certain criteria, into clusters. Each cluster is considered a “super response” and contributes to the result proportional to its relative size and the difference in opinion from the mean of the entire sample. In so doing, the CFEV represents the opinion of the majority of the population, but it also respects the opinion of the minority. A comparison is made with existing schemes, such as the fuzzy expected value and the weighted fuzzy expected value, also intended to compute the most typical value in fuzzy sets. The advantages of CFEV are demonstrated by examples for cases where other methods fail to perform