maximax

noun

maximax

noun

Etymology From maxi(mum), maxi(mize) + max(imum).

1

Computer, Computing, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Science, Sciences A strategy or algorithm that seeks to maximize the maximum possible result (that is, that prefers the alternative with the chance of the best possible outcome, even if its expected outcome and its worst possible outcome are worse than other alternatives); often used attributively, as "maximax strategy", "maximax approach", and so on.

Decision theory

  • The first criterion is the Hurwicz criterion, often referred to the maximax criterion. […] the decision-maker is always optimistic and attempts to maximize profits by a go-for-broke strategy.2009, Harold Kerzner, Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, Tenth Edition, John Wiley and Sons, →ISBN, page 749:
Related terms
maximin, minimax, minimin

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.