Multiple-scattering transmission and reflection coefficients (T,R) are introduced in addition to the diffusion coefficient D for the description of ballistic diffusion in the presence of absorption. For 1D (one-dimensional) systems, the measurement of only one between T and D imposes restrictions on the possible values of the other. If D is measured, then T is bounded between the Landauer and Lambert-Beer equations. Measurements of both (T,D) imply the theoretical knowledge of the microscopic absorption Sigma(a) and scattering r Sigma(s) cross sections.