Papers

Physics as a decision theory

Author(s)
Thomas Saaty
Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Pittsburgh
United States

Publication date: Sep, 1990

Journal: European Journal of Operational Research
Vol.: 48- Issue: 1- Pages: 98-104

Abstract: We show that there is a close mathematical relationship between physics and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. We argue that numerical scales used in physics must be interpreted in terms which the scientist understands through experience and through theories advocated by experts in the field. In physics there are primary varibles and secondary variables defined in terms of them, all measured on ratio scales. We show that hierarchic composition in the AHP works in a similar way to physics and we illustrate this with an example.

Keywords: Physics, Analytic Hierarchy Process, AHP

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(90)90066-K