Maximum Likelihood (1) — the probability idea.

A pixel belongs to a class if the probability of membership in that class is highest:

\[p_c > p_i \quad \text{for all } i = 1, 2, 3, \ldots, m\ \text{classes}\]

• The pixel at x is assigned to class c if the likelihood that the correct class is c is the largest.
• Reference: ERDAS Imagine v8.3 Professional Training Reference Manual (1997) p. 29.