1. A method for transforming numerical values for a plurality of objects that each have a plurality of features having a plurality of features values that are to be analyzed by a rule based or a decision tree system having a plurality of conditional elements for comparing feature values to threshold values in order to generate a specified solution to a problem, comprising: for a first feature of the objects having a numerical format, identifying all conditional elements that pertain to such first feature; for each set of identified conditional elements of the first feature, identifying a plurality of intervals that are bounded by the thresholds of the identified conditional elements that pertain to the first feature and assigning an integer value to each identified interval; transforming each features value of the first feature of the objects into the integer value that was assigned to one of the intervals that was identified for such first feature and into which the each feature value belongs; and storing each transformed feature value for use by the rule based or decision tree system.