Keywords

Zermelo, paired comparisons, ranking

Abstract

In 1929, Zermelo proposed a probabilistic model for ranking by paired comparisons and showed that this model produces a unique ranking of the objects under consideration when the outcome matrix is irreducible. When the matrix is reducible, the model may yield only a partial ordering of the objects. In this paper, we analyse a natural extension of Zermelo's model resulting from a singular perturbation. We show that this extension produces a ranking for arbitrary (nonnegative) outcome matrices and retains several of the desirable properties of the original model. In addition, we discuss computational techniques and provide examples of their use.

Original Publication Citation

European Journal of Applied Mathematics, 11(2), pp 225-247.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2000-01-01

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/1246

Publisher

Cambridge University Press, http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=47589

Language

English

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Mathematics

Included in

Mathematics Commons

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