Belief functions

Belief functions are mathematical tools used to quantify uncertainty and make decisions based on incomplete or ambiguous information. Unlike traditional probabilities that assign exact chances to events, belief functions allow for expressing varying degrees of confidence, including the state of having limited or uncertain evidence. They help combine different sources of information to assess how strongly we believe in certain outcomes, considering all available evidence without requiring precise probabilities. This approach is useful in complex decision-making scenarios where information is uncertain or conflicting, providing a flexible way to model and reason about uncertainty systematically.