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Available online at www.rfbss.org
International Journal for Basic Sciences and Social Sciences (IJBSS), 2(1), 2013, 112-118
Published by Research Foundation for Basic Sciences and Social Sciences (RFBSS), India
ISSN: 2319-2968

PROPERTIES OF FUZZY SOFT SET

S. Ruban Raj
1
, M. Saradha
2

1
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, St. Joseph College, Trichirappalli, Tamilnadu
E-mail: ruban946@gmail.com
2
Research Scholar, Department of Mathematics, St. Joseph College, Trichirappalli, Tamilnadu
Email:ishuharisri88@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________________________________









International Journal for Basic Sciences and Social Sciences (IJBSS). All rights reserved.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction
Most of the problems in economics, engineering. Environment, social science, medical science etc. have various
uncertainties. In 1999, Molodstov [2] pointed out that these theories which are considered as mathematical tools for
dealing with uncertainties. The Soft Set Theory introduced by Molodstov [2] is quite different from these theories in
this context. The absence of any restrictions on the approximate description in Soft Set Theory makes this theory very
convenient and easily applicable. Fuzzy set theory proposed by Professor L.A. Zadeh [1] in 1965 is considered as a
special case of the soft sets. In 2003, P.K. Maji, R. Biswas and A.R. Roy [6] studied the theory of soft sets initiated
by Molodstov [2] and developed several basic notions of Soft Set Theory. At present, researchers are contributing a
lot on the extension of soft set theory. In 2005, Pei and Miao [7] and Chen et al. [5] studied and improved the findings
of Maji et al [6]. In 2011, T.J. Neog and D.K. Sut [8] studied the theory of soft sets initiated by Molodstov [2] and
developed several basic notions of Soft Set Theory. In this paper, we define a subset hood of a soft fuzzy set along
with several examples.
2. Preliminaries
2.1 Definition [2]
Let X be an initial set and U be a set of parameters. Let P(X) denotes the power set of X, and let A U c . A pair (F, A)
is called a soft set over X, where F is a mapping given by F: A P(X).
In other words, a soft set over X is a parameterized family of subsets of the universe X. For A e , ( ) F may be
considered as the set of - elements of the soft set (F, A) or as the - approximate elements of the soft set. Clearly, a
soft set is not a (crisp) set. To illustrate this idea, we consider the following example.

ABSTRACT
Fuzzy soft set is one of the recent topics developed for dealing the concept with the
uncertainties present in most of our real life situations. The parameterization tools of
soft set theory enhance the flexibility of its applications to different problems. In this
work, we give definitions of nucleus, support, height of a fuzzy soft set and illustrate with
examples. We further give the definition of Degree of Subset hood and cardinality of
fuzzy soft sets with examples.

KEYWORDS
Soft Set
Fuzzy Soft Set,
Fuzzy Soft Class
Degree of Subset hood
ARTICLE INFO
Received:
Nov 5, 2012
Accepted:
Dec11, 2012

S. Ruban Raj & M. Saradha, IJBSS, 2(1), 2013, 112-117
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113

2.2 Example
Let us consider a soft set (F, A) which describes the attractiveness of houses that Mr. P is considering to purchase.
Suppose that there are six houses in the universe X under consideration, { }
1 2 3 4 5 6
, , , , , X h h h h h h = and
{ }
1 2 3 4 5
, , , , A e e e e e U = c is a set of decision parameters, where
1
e stands for the parameters expensive,
2
e stands
for the parameters beautiful,
3
e stands for the parameters wooden,
4
e stands for the parameters cheap,
5
e
stands for the parameters in the green surrounding.
Consider the mapping F: AP (X).
Given by houses (.), where (.) is to be filled in by one of parameters e U e .
Suppose that F (
1
e ) = { }
2 5
, h h , F(
2
e ) = { }
1 3 5
, , h h h , F(
3
e ) = { }
1 4 5
, , h h h , F(
4
e ) = { }
1 2 5
, , h h h , F(
5
e ) ={ }
5
h .
Therefore, F(
1
e ) means houses(expensive), whose functional value is the set { }
2 5
, h h . Thus we can view the soft
set (F, A) as a collection of approximations as below


( )
{ }
{ }
{ }
{ }
{ }
2 5
1 3 5
1 4 5
1 2 5
5
expensive houses = , ,
beautiful houses = , , ,
, wooden houses = , , ,
cheap houses = , , ,
in green surrounding houses =
h h
h h h
F A h h h
h h h
h




=
`



)


2.3 Definition [6]
A pair (F, A) is called a fuzzy soft set over X where F: A ( ) P X

is a mapping from A into ( ) P X

.

2.4 Example
Let { }
1 2 3 4 5 6
, , , , , X h h h h h h = be the set of six houses under consideration and { }
1 2 3 4 5
, , , , A e e e e e U = c is a set of
decision parameters, where
1
e stands for the parameters expensive,
2
e stands for the parameters beautiful,
3
e
stands for the parameters wooden,
4
e stands for the parameters cheap,
5
e stands for the parameters in the
green surrounding.
Consider the mapping F: A ( ) P X


(F, A) = { F(e
1
) = { h
2
/0.9, h
5
/0.7}, F(e
2
) = { h
1
/0.6,h
3
/0.9,h
5
/0.7}, F(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.5,h
4
/0.9,h
5
/0.6},
F(e
4
) = { h
1
/0.7,h
2
/0.8,h
5
/0.9}, F(e
5
) = { h
5
/0.8}}
is the fuzzy soft set representing the attractiveness of the houses which Mr. X is going to buy.

2.5 Definition [3]
Let X be a universe and U a set of attributes. Then the pair (X, U) denotes the collection of all fuzzy soft sets on X
with attributes from U and is called a fuzzy soft class.

2.6 Definition [7]
For two fuzzy soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) in a fuzzy soft class (X, U), we say that (F, A) is a fuzzy soft subset of (G, B),
if
S. Ruban Raj & M. Saradha, IJBSS, 2(1), 2013, 112-117
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114

(i) A _ B
(ii) For all A e , F () _ G () and is written as (F, A) _ (G, B).

2.7 Example
Let { }
1 2 3 4 5 6
, , , , , X h h h h h h = be the set of six houses under consideration and
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) { }
1 2 3 4 5
expensive , beautiful , wooden , cheap , in green surrounding U e e e e e = be the set of parameters,
{ }
1 2 3
, , A e e e U = _ and { }
1 2 3 5
, , , B e e e e U = _ . Then
(F, A) = { F(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.6, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.7, h
4
/0.5, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.5},
F(e
2
) = { h
1
/0.6, h
2
/0.8, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.7, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.7},
F(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.5, h
2
/0.6, h
3
/0.5, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.6, h
6
/0.6}}
is the fuzzy soft set representing the attractiveness of the house which Mr. P is going to buy and
(G, B) = { G(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.8, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.7, h
5
/0.8, h
6
/0.6},
G(e
2
) = { h
1
/0.6, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.8, h
5
/0.9, h
6
/0.9},
G(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.6, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.6, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.6},
G(e
5
) = { h
1
/0.2, h
2
/0.5, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.6, h
6
/0.5}}
is the fuzzy soft set representing the attractiveness of the house which Mr. Q is going to buy.
Here A _ B and for all A e , F () _ G () . Thus (F, A) _ (G, B).

2.8 Definition
Two soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) over a common universe X are said to be soft equal if (F, A) is a soft subset of (G, B)
and (G, B) is a soft subset of (F, A).

2.9 Definition [6]
A fuzzy soft set (F, A) over X is said to be an absolute fuzzy soft set, denoted by A

, if for all A e , F ( ) = X.

2.10 Definition [6]
Union of two fuzzy soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) in a soft class (X, U) is a fuzzy soft set (H, C) where C = A B and for
all e C,
( , ) ( ) ( , )
x U A
F A x F A
e
= =


and is written as ( ) ( ) ( ) , , , F A G B H C =

2.11 Example
Let { }
1 2 3 4 5 6
, , , , , X h h h h h h = be the set of six houses under consideration and
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) { }
1 2 3 4 5
expensive , beautiful , wooden , cheap , in green surrounding U e e e e e = be the set of parameters,
{ }
1 2 3
, , A e e e U = _ and { }
1 3 5
, , B e e e U = _ . Then
(F, A) = { F(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.5, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.6, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.5},
F(e
2
) = { h
1
/0.6, h
2
/0.8, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.7, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.7},
F(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.5, h
2
/0.6, h
3
/0.5, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.6, h
6
/0.6}}
S. Ruban Raj & M. Saradha, IJBSS, 2(1), 2013, 112-117
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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115


(G, B) = { G(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.3, h
2
/0.7, h
3
/0.8, h
4
/0.2, h
5
/0.5, h
6
/0.6},
G(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.3, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.6, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.6},
G(e
5
) = { h
1
/0.2, h
2
/0.5, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.6, h
6
/0.5}}
Then ( ) ( ) ( ) , , , F A G B H C =

where C = A B = { }
1 2 3 5
, , , e e e e and
(H, C) = { H(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.5, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.8, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.6},
H(e
2
) = { h
1
/0.6, h
2
/0.8, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.7, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.7},
H(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.5, h
2
/0.9, h
3
/0.6, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.7, h
6
/0.6},
H(e
5
) = { h
1
/0.2, h
2
/0.5, h
3
/0.9, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.6, h
6
/0.5}}

2.12 Definition [6]
Let (F, A) and (G, B) be two fuzzy soft sets in a soft class (X, U) with A B = . Then intersection of two fuzzy soft
sets (F, A) and (G, B) in a soft class (X, U) is a fuzzy soft set (H, C) where C = A B and for all e C, H () =
F ( ) G( ). We write( ) ( ) ( ) , , , F A G B H C =

.

2.13 Example
For the two fuzzy soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) given in above example, ( ) ( ) ( ) , , , F A G B H C =

, where
C = A B = { }
1 3
, e e and
(H, C) = { H(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.3, h
2
/0.7, h
3
/0.6, h
4
/0.2, h
5
/0.5, h
6
/0.5},
H(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.3, h
2
/0.6, h
3
/0.5, h
4
/0.9, h
5
/0.6, h
6
/0.6}}


3. Degree of Subsethood

3.1 Nucleus of a Fuzzy Soft Set
The nucleus of a fuzzy soft set (F, A) is defined by, nucleus (F, A) = {xeX, ( ) 1
A
x = }
If there is only one point with membership degree equal to 1, then this point is known as Peak value of (F, A).

3.2 Support of a Fuzzy Soft Set
The Support of fuzzy Soft Set (F, A) with in a parameter set U, that contains all the elements of X having non-zero
membership grades in (F, A). It is denoted by Supp (F, A).

3.3 Height of a Fuzzy Soft Set
The height of a fuzzy soft set (F, A) is the largest membership grade obtained by any element in that set and is defined
as h (F, A) = sup (F, A)

3.4 Example
Let { }
1 2 3
, , X h h h = be the set of three houses and { }
1 2 3
costly( ), cheap( ), beautiful( ) U e e e = be the set of parameters.
S. Ruban Raj & M. Saradha, IJBSS, 2(1), 2013, 112-117
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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116

Consider the fuzzy soft set (F, A), where A = { }
1 3
, e e c U, given by
(F, A) = { F(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.3, h
2
/0.7, h
3
/0.6}, F(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.5, h
2
/0.4, h
3
/0.4}}
h (F, A) = sup (F, A) = { h
2
/0.6}.

3.5 Cardinality of a Fuzzy Soft Set
For a finite fuzzy soft set (F, A), the Cardinality ( , ) F A is defined as ( , ) ( ) ( , )
x U A
F A x F A
e
= =


And its relative cardinality ( , ) F A is ( , ) ( , ) G B F A

3.6 Set Cardinality of a Fuzzy Soft Set
We define for a finite fuzzy soft set (F, A), the Set Cardinality ( , ) F A is defined as ( , ) { ( )}
j
j
e A
F A E F e
e
=


3.7 Example
Let { }
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
, , , , , , , , X h h h h h h h h h = be the set of houses under consideration and U = {expensive (
1
e ), near by city
(
2
e ), cheap (
3
e ), beautiful (
4
e ), rural area (
5
e ), green surrounding (
6
e ), very cheap (
7
e )} be the set of parameters.
Consider the fuzzy soft sets (F, A) where A = {
1
e ,
2
e ,
4
e ,
6
e } c U. Then
(F, A) = { F(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.9, h
2
/0.9, h
4
/0.8, h
5
/0.8, h
7
/0.8},
F(e
2
) = { h
1
/0.8, h
2
/0.8, h
3
/0.6, h
4
/0.8, h
7
/0.6},
F(e
4
) = { h
1
/0.9, h
2
/0.8, h
4
/0.9, h
6
/0.7, h
7
/0.6},
F(e
6
) = { h
1
/0.9, h
2
/0.7, h
4
/0.9, h
7
/0.7, h
8
/0.6}}
( , ) { ( )}
j
j
e A
F A E F e
e
=

= 3.2

3.8 Degree of Subset hood
Let X be a Universal, U be a set of parameters and let (F, A) and (G, B) are two fuzzy soft sets of X. Then the degree
of subset hood denoted by S (A, B) is defined as,

S (A, B) = ( ) { }
1
( , ) max 0, ( , ) ( , )
( , )
F A F A G B
F A

Where ( , ) exp ( )
j
e A j
F A F e
e
=

and S (B, A) = ( ) { }
1
( , ) max 0, ( , ) ( , )
( , )
G B G B F A
G B

3.8 Example
Let { }
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
, , , , , , , , X h h h h h h h h h = be the set of houses under consideration and U = {expensive (
1
e ), near by city
(
2
e ), cheap (
3
e ), beautiful (
4
e ), rural area (
5
e ), green surrounding (
6
e ), very cheap (
7
e )} be the set of parameters.
Consider the fuzzy soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) where A = {
1
e ,
2
e ,
4
e ,
6
e } c U and B = {
2
e ,
3
e ,
5
e ,
6
e } c U. Then
(F, A) = { F(e
1
) = { h
1
/0.9, h
2
/0.9, h
4
/0.8, h
5
/0.8, h
7
/0.8},
S. Ruban Raj & M. Saradha, IJBSS, 2(1), 2013, 112-117
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117

F(e
2
) = { h
1
/0.8, h
2
/0.8, h
3
/0.6, h
4
/0.8, h
7
/0.6},
F(e
4
) = { h
1
/0.9, h
2
/0.8, h
4
/0.9, h
6
/0.7, h
7
/0.6},
F(e
6
) = { h
1
/0.9, h
2
/0.7, h
4
/0.9, h
7
/0.7, h
8
/0.6}} and
(G, B) = { G(e
3
) = { h
1
/0.8, h
2
/0.7, h
3
/0.8, h
5
/0.9, h
6
/0.7, h
8
/0.9, h
9
/0.9},
G(e
5
) = { h
1
/0.7, h
2
/0.6, h
4
/0.7, h
5
/0.8, h
6
/0.8, h
9
/0.8},
G(e
6
) = { h
1
/0.7, h
2
/0.6, h
5
/0.9, h
6
/0.7, h
7
/0.8, h
9
/0.8}}
( , ) exp ( )
j
e A j
F A F e
e
=

= 3.2
( , ) exp ( )
j
e A j
G B G e
e
=

= 3.7
( , ) ( , ) F A G B = (0.2, 0.2, 0, 0.9,-0.9,-0.7, 0.6, 0,-0.8)
( , ) ( , ) G B F A = (-0.2, -0.2, 0, -0.9, 0.9, 0.7, -0.6, 0, 0.8)
S (A, B) = ( ) { }
1
3.2 max 0, (0.2, 0.2, 0, 0.9, 0.9, 0.7, 0.6, 0, 0.8)
3.2

= 0.40625 ~ 0.4
and S (B, A) = ( ) { }
1
3.7 max 0, ( 0.2, 0.2, 0, 0.9, 0.9, 0.7, 0.6, 0, 0.8)
3.7

= 0.35135 ~ 0.3

4. Conclusion
In this article, we have given definitions of nucleus, support, height of a fuzzy soft set and illustrate with examples.
We have introduced the concept of subset hood of fuzzy soft set and cardinality of fuzzy soft sets with examples. It is
hoped that our findings will help enhancing this study on fuzzy soft sets for the researchers.

5. Acknowledgement
Our special thanks to the referee and the editor of this journal for their valuable comments and suggestions which have
improved this paper.

REFERENCES

[1] Zadeh, L. A., Fuzzy Sets, Information and Control, 8, pp. 338-353, 1965.
[2] Molodstov. D.A., Soft Set Theory First Result, Computers and Mathematics with Applications, Vol. 37, pp.
19-31, 1999.
[3] Ahmad, B. and Kharal, A., Mappings on Soft Classes (Originally Submitted on 17th oct, 2008 to Information
Sciences with the title of Mappings on Soft Sets and was given MS#INS-D-08-1231 by EES.
[4] Ali, M. Irfan, Feng F, Liu, X., Min, W.K. Shabir, M. On some new opereations in soft set theory, Computers
and Mathematics with Applications 57 (2009) 1547-1553.
[5] Chen, D., Tsang, E.C.C., Yeung, D.S. and Wang, X., The Parameterization reduction of soft sets and its
applications, Computers and Mathematics with Applications 49 (2005) 757-763.
[6] Maji, P. K., Biswas .R, and Roy, A. R., Soft Set Theory, Computers and Mathematics with Applications 45, pp.
555-562, 2003.
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
118

[7] Pei, D. and Miao, D. From Soft Sets to Information Systems, in Proceedings of the IEEE International
Conference on Granular Computing, vol. 2, pp. 617-621, 2005.
[8] Neog T.J. and Sut D.K., A New Approach to the Theory of Soft Sets, International Journal of Computer
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