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Lower and upper values

Given a convex set K of probability distributions, a probability interval can be created for every event A by defining lower and upper bounds:

\begin{displaymath}
\underline{p}(A) = \inf_{p \in K} p(A),
\hspace{1cm}
\overline{p}(A) = \sup_{p \in K} p(A).
\end{displaymath}

Lower and upper expectations for a function f(X) are defined as (Ep[f] is the expectation of the function f):

\begin{displaymath}
\underline{E}[f] = \inf_{p \in K} E_p[f],
\hspace{1cm}
\overline{E}[f] = \sup_{p \in K} E_p[f].
\end{displaymath}

There is a one-to-one correspondence between lower (or upper) expectations and credal sets. Given a credal set, the set of all lower expectations for all arbitrary functions f(X) is unique, and vice-versa.



Fabio Gagliardi Cozman
1998-07-03