Efficient vectors for block perturbed consistent matrices

Abstract: In prioritization schemes, based on pairwise comparisons, such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process, it is important to extract a cardinal ranking vector from a reciprocal matrix that is unlikely to be consistent. It is natural to choose such a vector only from efficient ones. Recently a method to generate inductively all efficient vectors for any reciprocal matrix has been discovered. Here we focus upon the study of efficient vectors for a reciprocal matrix that is a block perturbation of a consistent matrix in the sense that it is obtained from a consistent matrix by modifying entries only in a proper principal submatrix. We determine an explicit class of efficient vectors for such matrices. Based upon this, we give a description of all the efficient vectors in the 3-by-3 block perturbed case. In addition, we give sufficient conditions for the right Perron eigenvector of such matrices to be efficient and provide examples in which efficiency does not occur. Also, we consider a certain type of constant block perturbed consistent matrices, for which we may construct a class of efficient vectors, and demonstrate the efficiency of the Perron eigenvector. Appropriate examples are provided throughout.