arXiv subjects

Sándor Bozóki

Publications and source records attributed to Sándor Bozóki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The paxotopy method for finding isolated roots of a system of nonlinear equations

We focus on systems of nonlinear equations, where some equations are non-polynomial. Building on the remarkable developments in solving polynomial systems during the recent decades, and on a few extensions to specific examples of the transcendental case, a general framework for finding isolated roots is proposed. The name paxotopy is proposed after (1) Polynomial ApproXimation of the transcendental functions, then (2) solving the approximating polynomial system by the homOTOPY continuation method, and finally (3) the roots of the polynomial systems are used as starting points of a Newton's iteration to arrive at the solutions of the original system. These steps combine the advantages of local and global methods.

math.NA↗

arXiv2026

Theoretical properties of the eigenvector method

A classical proposal to derive weights from a pairwise comparison matrix is the right eigenvector. The literature has identified some potential weaknesses of this method in previous decades. This chapter discusses five of these issues. First, right-left asymmetry emerges because of the difference between the right and inverse left eigenvectors. Second, group incoherence for choice means that, in group decision-making problems, the ranking given by the aggregated individual weight vectors is not guaranteed to coincide with the ranking derived from the aggregated pairwise comparison matrix. Third, the ranking based on the right eigenvector may depend on the intensity of the preferences, represented by taking a positive power of all comparisons. Fourth, both the ranking position and the normalised weight of an object might change counter-intuitively after modifying a particular comparison. Fifth, the right eigenvector is not necessarily Pareto efficient: a dominating weight vector that approximates each pairwise comparison at least as well, with an improvement in at least one position, could exist. All violations of the theoretical properties are highlighted by illustrative examples. We also present several open questions in order to inspire future research.

math.OC↗

arXiv2026

Incomplete pairwise comparison matrices and their applications

Incomplete pairwise comparison matrices are increasingly employed to save resources and reduce cognitive load by collecting only a subset of all possible pairwise comparisons. We present their graph representation and some completion algorithms, including the incomplete eigenvector and incomplete logarithmic least squares methods, as well as a lexicographical minimisation of triad inconsistencies. The issue of ordinal violations is discussed for matrices generated by directed acyclic graphs and the best--worst method. We also show a reasonable approach to generalise the inconsistency threshold based on the dominant eigenvalue to the incomplete case, and state recent results on the optimal order of obtaining pairwise comparisons. The benefits of using incomplete pairwise comparisons are highlighted by several applications.

math.OC↗

arXiv2025

Optimal sequences for pairwise comparisons: the graph of graphs approach

In preference modelling, it is essential to determine the number of questions and their arrangements to ask from the decision maker. We focus on incomplete pairwise comparison matrices, and provide the optimal filling in patterns, which result in the closest (LLSM) weight vectors on average to the complete case for at most six alternatives and for all possible number of comparisons, when the underlying representing graph is connected. These results are obtained by extensive numerical simulations with large sample sizes. Many optimal filling structures resulted in optimal filling in sequences -- one optimal case can be reached by adding a comparison to a previous one -- which are presented on graph \color{black} of graphs. The star graph is revealed to be optimal among spanning trees, while the optimal graphs are always close to bipartite ones. Regular graphs also correspond to optimal cases, furthermore regularity is important for all optimal graphs, as the degrees of different vertices are always as close to each other as possible. Besides applying optimal filling structures in given decision making problems, practitioners can utilize the optimal filling sequences in the cases, when the decision maker can abandon the problem at any period of the process (e.g., in online questionnaires).

math.OC↗

arXiv2025

An experimental approach: The graph of graphs

One of the essential issues in decision problems and preference modeling is the number of comparisons and their pattern to ask from the decision maker. We focus on the optimal patterns of pairwise comparisons and the sequence including the most (close to) optimal cases based on the results of a color selection experiment. In the test, six colors (red, green, blue, magenta, turquoise, yellow) were evaluated with pairwise comparisons as well as in a direct manner, on color-calibrated tablets in ISO standardized sensory test booths of a sensory laboratory. All the possible patterns of comparisons resulting in a connected representing graph were evaluated against the complete data based on 301 individual's pairwise comparison matrices (PCMs) using the logarithmic least squares weight calculation technique. It is shown that the empirical results, i.e., the empirical distributions of the elements of PCMs, are quite similar to the former simulated outcomes from the literature. The obtained empirically optimal patterns of comparisons were the best or the second best in the former simulations as well, while the sequence of comparisons that contains the most (close to) optimal patterns is exactly the same. In order to enhance the applicability of the results, besides the presentation of graph of graphs, and the representing graphs of the patterns that describe the proposed sequence of comparisons themselves, the recommendations are also detailed in a table format as well as in a Java application.

math.OC↗

arXiv2025

Geometry of efficient weight vectors

Pairwise comparison matrices and the weight vectors obtained from them are important concepts in multi-criteria decision making. A weight vector calculated from a pairwise comparison matrix is called Pareto efficient if the approximation of the matrix elements by the weight ratios cannot be improved for any element of the matrix without worsening it for another element. The aim of this paper is to show the geometrical properties of the set of Pareto efficient weight vectors for $4\times 4$ pairwise comparison matrices. We prove that the set of efficient weight vectors is a union of three tetrahedra, each determined by four weight vectors calculated from an incomplete submatrix of the pairwise comparison matrix that can be represented by a path spanning tree graph. It is shown that with suitable rearrangements the orientations of the $4$-cycles in the Blanquero-Carrizosa-Conde graphs for the efficient weight vectors are determined as well. The special cases (double perturbed, simple perturbed, consistent matrices) are discussed in the online appendices.

math.OC↗

arXiv2025

An experimental approach: Converting verbal expressions to numerical scales

One of the key issues in decision problems is the selection and use of the appropriate response scale. In this paper verbal expressions are converted into numerical scales for a subjective problem instance. The main motivation for our research was that verbal values in decision tasks are often mechanically converted into numbers, which thus typically do not fully represent the respondent's true evaluation. In our experiment, we conducted a color selection test with 462 subjects by testing six colors (red, green, blue, magenta, turquoise, yellow) defined from the Color Namer database on color-calibrated tablets in ISO standardized sensory test booths of a sensory laboratory. The colors were evaluated both in a pairwise comparison matrix (indirect ranking with four-item verbal category scale) and on a direct scoring basis. We determined scales that provide the closest results on average and individually to the direct scoring, based on the eigenvector and the logarithmic least squares methods. All results show that the difference between verbal expressions is much smaller than the one used by most of the common numerical scales. The respondents' inconsistency was also analyzed, even with a repeated question regarding their preference between a given pair of colors. It is shown that most decision makers answer fairly similarly for the second time, but there can be significant (even ordinal) differences. The respondents whose answers are further from the original tend to be more inconsistent in general.

math.OC↗

arXiv2024

A clustering approach for pairwise comparison matrices

We consider clustering in group decision making where the opinions are given by pairwise comparison matrices. In particular, the k-medoids model is suggested to classify the matrices since it has a linear programming problem formulation that may contain any condition on the properties of the cluster centres. Its objective function depends on the measure of dissimilarity between the matrices but not on the weights derived from them. Our methodology provides a convenient tool for decision support, for instance, it can be used to quantify the reliability of the aggregation. The proposed theoretical framework is applied to a large-scale experimental dataset, on which it is able to automatically detect some mistakes made by the decision-makers, as well as to identify a common source of inconsistency.

math.OC↗

arXiv2024

The smallest mono-unstable, homogeneous convex polyhedron has at least 7 vertices

We prove that every homogeneous convex polyhedron with only one unstable equilibrium (known as a mono-unstable convex polyhedron) has at least $7$ vertices. Although it has been long known that no mono-unstable tetrahedra exist, and mono-unstable polyhedra with as few as $18$ vertices and faces have been constructed, this is the first nontrivial lower bound on the number of vertices for a mono-unstable polyhedron. There are two main ingredients in the proof. We first establish two types of relationships, both expressible as (non-convex) quadratic inequalities, that the coordinates of the vertices of a mono-unstable convex polyhedron must satisfy, taking into account the combinatorial structure of the polyhedron. Then we use numerical semidefinite optimization algorithms to compute easily and independently verifiable, rigorous certificates that the resulting systems of quadratic inequalities (5943 in total) are indeed inconsistent in each case.

math.MG↗

arXiv2023

How to measure consumer's inconsistency in sensory testing?

Standard methods, standard test conditions and the use of good sensory practices are key elements of sensory testing. However, while compliance assessment by trained and expert assessors is well developed, few information is available on testing consumer consistency. Therefore, we aim to answer the following research questions: What type of metrics can be used to characterise (in)consistent evaluation? How to rank assessors and attributes' evaluations based on (in)consistency? Who can be considered an (in)consistent assessor? What is the difference between consistent and inconsistent assessors' evaluations and use of scale? What is the impact of consistent and inconsistent assessors' evaluations on the overall liking estimate? The proposed detection of (in)consistency requires evaluations on two connected scales. We reveal how assessors and attributes can be ranked according to the level of inconsistency, as well as how inconsistent assessors can be identified. The suggested approach is illustrated by data from sensory tests of biscuits enriched with three pollens at different levels. Future consumer tests are recommended to account for possible inconsistent evaluations.

stat.AP↗

arXiv2023

On the coincidence of optimal completions for small pairwise comparison matrices with missing entries

Incomplete pairwise comparison matrices contain some missing judgements. A natural approach to estimate these values is provided by minimising a reasonable measure of inconsistency after unknown entries are replaced by variables. Two widely used inconsistency indices for this purpose are Saaty's inconsistency index and the geometric inconsistency index, which are closely related to the eigenvector and the logarithmic least squares priority deriving methods, respectively. The two measures are proven to imply the same optimal filling for incomplete pairwise comparison matrices up to order four but not necessarily for order at least five.

math.OC↗

arXiv2023

The smallest mono-unstable convex polyhedron with point masses has 8 faces and 11 vertices

In the study of monostatic polyhedra, initiated by John H. Conway in 1966, the main question is to construct such an object with the minimal number of faces and vertices. By distinguishing between various material distributions and stability types, this expands into a small family of related questions. While many upper and lower bounds on the necessary numbers of faces and vertices have been established, none of these questions has been so far resolved. Adapting an algorithm presented in (Bozóki et al., 2022), here we offer the first complete answer to a question from this family: by using the toolbox of semidefinite optimization to efficiently generate the hundreds of thousands of infeasibility certificates, we provide the first-ever proof for the existence of a monostatic polyhedron with point masses, having minimal number (V=11) of vertices (Theorem 3) and a minimal number (F=8) of faces. We also show that V=11 is the smallest number of vertices that a mono-unstable polyhedron can have in all dimensions greater than 1. (Corollary 6.)

math.MG↗

arXiv2022

The incomplete Analytic Hierarchy Process and Bradley-Terry model: (in)consistency and information retrieval

Several methods of preference modeling, ranking, voting and multi-criteria decision making include pairwise comparisons. It is usually simpler to compare two objects at a time, furthermore, some relations (e.g., the outcome of sports matches) are naturally known for pairs. This paper investigates and compares pairwise comparison models and the stochastic Bradley-Terry model. It is proved that they provide the same priority vectors for consistent (complete or incomplete) comparisons. For incomplete comparisons, all filling in levels are considered. Recent results identified the optimal subsets and sequences of multiplicative/additive/reciprocal pairwise comparisons for small sizes of items (up to n = 6). Simulations of this paper show that the same subsets and sequences are optimal in case of the Bradley-Terry and the Thurstone models as well. This, somehow surprising, coincidence suggests the existence of a more general result. Further models of information and preference theory are subject to future investigation in order to identify optimal subsets of input data.

math.OC↗

arXiv2021

Mono-monostatic polyhedra with uniform point masses have at least 8 vertices

The monostatic property of convex polyhedra (i.e. the property of having just one stable or unstable static equilibrium point) has been in the focus of research ever since Conway and Guy published the proof of the existence of the first such object, followed by the constructions of Bezdek and Reshetov. These examples establish $F\leq 14, V\leq 18$ as the respective \emph{upper bounds} for the minimal number of faces and vertices for a homogeneous mono-stable polyhedron. By proving that no mono-stable homogeneous tetrahedron existed, Conway and Guy established for the same problem the lower bounds for the number of faces and vertices as $F, V \geq 5$ and the same lower bounds were also established for the mono-unstable case. It is also clear that the $F,V \geq 5$ bounds also apply for convex, homogeneous point sets with unit masses at each point (also called polyhedral 0-skeletons) and they are also valid for mono-monostatic polyhedra with exactly on stable and one unstable equilibrium point (both homogeneous and 0-skeletons). Here we present an algorithm by which we improve the lower bound to $V\geq 8$ vertices (implying $f \geq 6$ faces) on mono-unstable and mono-monostable 0-skeletons. Our algorithm appears to be less well suited to compute the lower bounds for mono-stability. We point out these difficulties in connection with the work of Dawson and Finbow who explored the monostatic property of simplices in higher dimensions.

math.MG↗

arXiv2020

Filling in pattern designs for incomplete pairwise comparison matrices: (quasi-)regular graphs with minimal diameter

Multicriteria Decision Making problems are important both for individuals and groups. Pairwise comparisons have become popular in the theory and practice of preference modelling and quantification. We focus on decision problems where the set of pairwise comparisons can be chosen, i.e., it is not given a priori. The objective of this paper is to provide recommendations for filling patterns of incomplete pairwise comparison matrices (PCMs) based on their graph representation. Regularity means that each item is compared to others for the same number of times, resulting in a kind of symmetry. A graph on an odd number of vertices is called quasi-regular, if the degree of every vertex is the same odd number, except for one vertex whose degree is larger by one. If there is a pair of items such that their shortest connecting path is very long, the comparison between these two items relies on many intermediate comparisons, and is possibly biased by all of their errors. Such an example was previously found, where the graph generated from the table tennis players' matches included a long shortest path between two vertices (players), and the calculated result appeared to be misleading. If the diameter of the graph of comparisons is low as possible (among the graphs of the same number of edges), we can avoid, or, at least decrease, such cumulated errors. The aim of our research is to find graphs, among regular and quasi-regular ones, with minimal diameter. Both theorists and practitioners can use the results, given in several formats in the appendix: graph, adjacency matrix, list of edges.

cs.DM↗

arXiv2020

Incomplete Analytic Hierarchy Process with Minimum Weighted Ordinal Violations

Incomplete pairwise comparison matrices offer a natural way of expressing preferences in decision making processes. Although ordinal information is crucial, there is a bias in the literature: cardinal models dominate. Ordinal models usually yield non-unique solutions; therefore, an approach blending ordinal and cardinal information is needed. In this work, we consider two cascading problems: first, we compute ordinal preferences, maximizing an index that combines ordinal and cardinal information; then, we obtain a cardinal ranking by enforcing ordinal constraints. Notably, we provide a sufficient condition (that is likely to be satisfied in practical cases) for the first problem to admit a unique solution and we develop a provably polynomial-time algorithm to compute it. The effectiveness of the proposed method is analyzed and compared with respect to other approaches and criteria at the state of the art.

math.OC↗

arXiv2019

Domination of the rectangular queen's graph

The queen's graph $Q_{m \times n}$ has the squares of the $m \times n$ chessboard as its vertices; two squares are adjacent if they are in the same row, column, or diagonal of the board. A set $D$ of squares of $Q_{m \times n}$ is a dominating set for $Q_{m \times n}$ if every square of $Q_{m \times n}$ is either in $D$ or adjacent to a square in $D$. The minimum size of a dominating set of $Q_{m \times n}$ is the domination number, denoted by $γ(Q_{m \times n})$. Values of $γ(Q_{m \times n}), \, 4 \leq m \leq n \leq 18, \,$ are given here, in each case with a file of minimum dominating sets (often all of them, up to symmetry) in an online appendix at https://www.combinatorics.org/ojs/index.php/eljc/article/view/v26i4p45/HTML. In these ranges for $m$ and $n$, monotonicity fails once: $γ(Q_{8 \times 11}) = 6 > 5 = γ(Q_{9 \times 11}) = γ(Q_{10 \times 11}) = γ(Q_{11 \times 11})$. Lower bounds on $γ(Q_{m \times n})$ are given. In particular, if $m \leq n$ then $γ(Q_{m \times n}) \geq \min \{ m, \lceil (m+n-2)/4 \rceil \}$. A set of squares is independent if no two of its squares are adjacent. The minimum size of an independent dominating set of $Q_{m \times n}$ is the independent domination number, denoted by $i(Q_{m \times n})$. Values of $i(Q_{m \times n}), \, 4 \leq m \leq n \leq 18, \,$ are given here, in each case with some minimum dominating sets. In these ranges for $m$ and $n$, monotonicity fails twice: $i(Q_{8 \times 11}) = 6 > 5 = i(Q_{9 \times 11}) = i(Q_{10 \times 11}) = i(Q_{11 \times 11})$, and $i(Q_{11 \times 18}) = 9 > 8 = i(Q_{12 \times 18})$.

math.CO↗

arXiv2019

The (logarithmic) least squares optimality of the arithmetic (geometric) mean of weight vectors calculated from all spanning trees for incomplete additive (multiplicative) pairwise comparison matrices

Complete and incomplete additive/multiplicative pairwise comparison matrices are applied in preference modelling, multi-attribute decision making and ranking. The equivalence of two well known methods is proved in this paper. The arithmetic (geometric) mean of weight vectors, calculated from all spanning trees, is proved to be optimal to the (logarithmic) least squares problem, not only for complete, as it was recently shown in Lundy, M., Siraj, S., Greco, S. (2017): The mathematical equivalence of the "spanning tree" and row geometric mean preference vectors and its implications for preference analysis, European Journal of Operational Research 257(1) 197-208, but for incomplete matrices as well. Unlike the complete case, where an explicit formula, namely the row arithmetic/geometric mean of matrix elements, exists for the (logarithmic) least squares problem, the incomplete case requires a completely different and new proof. Finally, Kirchhoff's laws for the calculation of potentials in electric circuits is connected to our results.

math.OC↗